Plans on the card to ensure the reliability of water supply whenever there are power outages in Linden include: the acquisition of about two or three generating sets as standby, to hook up to the West Watooka and Wisroc/Amelia’s Ward scheme; and the upgrading of the overhead storage at Blue Berry Hill which includes installing transmission lines to facilitate the flow of water into Block 22 Blue Berry Hill area.

This is according to Minister of Housing and Water, Sheik Baksh who addressed journalists at Watooka House, Linden on Tuesday, following a meeting President Bharrat Jagdeo held with stakeholders to discuss developments in relation to bringing an end to the electricity and water woes in those parts, as well as the blocking of the Mackenzie/Wismar bridge and Wisroc road.

Minister Baksh who noted that Phase One of the Rehabilitation plan had already commenced, expressed optimism that this could be achieved in the not too distant future.

“I am optimistic that within another month or so we could stabilise the situation so that Lindeners could have a fair supply of water,” the Minister said, adding “This will go a long way to ensure a reliability of supply in the event that you have power outages in the future.”

He outlined that the problem facing residents right now stems from the shut down of the Linden Power Company’s (LPC) power generating plants, noting that whenever electricity is out, the water treatment plant cannot produce the water.

Commenting on Phase One of the project, Baksh said that the commencement of Phase One was realised through the setting up of a number of taps for the Wisroc and West Watooka Water Treatment Plant, and these should be on stream soon enough.

However, the Minister noted that there is a more fundamental problem, that being - whether the source of water for the mining town will continue to be ‘surface water’, accessed from creeks and the Demerara River, or whether there should be a change over to wells.

The Minister reasoned that ‘treating’ surface water from the creeks and Demerara River is very expensive compared to using ground water.

Along with him at the meeting, he said, was an expert (a Lindener) to look at the ground water supply and determine whether or not they should drill a number of wells. He is to work in collaboration with the Guyana Water Incorporated.

Noting that a number of wells have been sunk in the past, including a very good distribution well at Amelia’s Ward, the Minister said that the exercise must now be undertaken more scientifically.

“Whether we go and look at the ground water supply for Linden, which would be less expensive to supply the residents of Linden with water, or continue with surface water - all of this would have to do with technical feasibility study.

He said that GWI water engineers would be brought to Linden to look at this problem which is more immediate than long term. Notwithstanding, even though there are plans for emergency relief which can take about one month, Minister Baksh contended that: “There must be a short, medium and long term plan for water for Linden which could possibly take about three years.