Improved water supplies flowing from US$56M Pouderoyen plant
--- sector investments to continue
Guyana Chronicle
November 19, 2003
GINA - RESIDENTS from Versailles to Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, are now benefiting from an improved supply of potable water with the rehabilitation of the Pouderoyen Water Treatment Plant.
The Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Shaik Baksh at the commissioning ceremony Saturday last, told residents that Government will continue to invest necessary resources into the water sector in the Coastland and Hinterland areas. He noted that the water sector is prominent on government's agenda.
Baksh pointed out that government over the last 10 years has been investing significant resources in the water sector. He noted that Guyana has been fortunate since it received the support of several funding agencies to effect projects in the water sector.
Over the years, Guyana's relationship with funding agencies, including the Department for International Funding (DFID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank has developed.
These agencies have provided assistance in the rehabilitation of several projects including the Bartica, La Bonne Intention, New Amsterdam, and Rose Hall Water Treatment Plants.
Government is working to ensure that everyone have access to potable water and intends to ensure that the level of service is maintained. The Minister urged consumers to pay their bills to assist in this process.
He pointed out that the connection fee has been reduced from $10,000 to $1,000 to allow easier access to the service. He urged persons to conserve water. The stipulated amount of water per person is 180 litres daily.
The Minister disclosed that his ministry is embarking on a sanitation project, which has the best housing scheme as a pilot area. This project will entail teaching persons to construct septic tanks instead of pit latrines to enhance sanitation in the area. Through self-help, the cost of construction will be significantly reduced.
In 1999, the rehabilitation programme for the Pouderoyen Water Project commenced and work was completed in October 2000. The project cost approximately US$56M. The finance agreement for the project was signed between the Government and the European Union in 1995.
The project included the rehabilitation of existing water supply structures in the area, institutional strengthening, installation of water supply, metering and a two-year partnership training programme with a developed country.
The Pouderoyen Water Project has two water treatment plants, with the capacity to distribute three mega-litres or 800,000 gallons each daily. Both plants are equipped with stand-by generating sets.
To date, nine water treatment plants have been rehabilitated and are serving over 160,000 people.