- Flagship project for Berbice for commissioning April monthend
WITH a budgetary allocation of $3.7B for the water sector and a new plan for Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) centered on mending leaks and expanding service, Minister of Housing and Water Mr. Harinarine Nawbatt has said this is the year of transformation for the water utility.

When the government dismissed British firm Severn Trent from the management of GWI, a 2008-2010 plan was developed to take the utility forward, Mr. Nawbatt said yesterday during the debate of the 2008 National Budget.

Of major emphasis in the plan is the reduction of leaks, since half of the water produced and distributed by GWI is lost this way. As a result, Nawbatt said there would be an extensive repair programme.

For the expansion and improvement of existing infrastructure to coastal locations and Linden, including the replacement of boreholes (wells), service connection upgrades and installation of transmission and distribution mains, some $395 million has been allocated in the budget.

There would also be increased emphasis on revenue collection, the Minister said, noting that in the recent past collections have improved, moving from $1.4B in 2005, to $1.6B in 2006 and then further growing to $2.1B last year.

Under the medium term plan, GWI intended to start its new billing system this year. Domestic consumers would be billed on a quarterly basis, while commercial and industrial consumers would be billed on a monthly basis.

Nawbatt also warned that there would be an “aggressive” disconnection of services to those who receive a reliable supply of water, especially treated water, but are behind with their payments.

The operationalisation of the new customer billing, information, and metering system will cost some $236M.

For this year, the other projects include completion of two iron removal plants at Sophia and Central Ruimveldt at a cost of $500 million, with an April, 2009 completion date.

A project to upgrade transmission and distribution lines to benefit approximately 50,000 persons will cost some $331M.

The completion of a treatment plant at No. 56 Village, costing some $90M, is also slated for this year, and will benefit 30,000 persons. Minister Nawbatt said the project is due for commissioning by the end of April. The total project cost, under Japanese grant aid, is $1B.

The project includes an elevated storage tank, booster pumps and a back up generator. It is designed to function 18 hours a day and provide treated water at first floor level or five metres high.

It will serve from No. 51 to No. 37 Villages. This amounts to some 10 miles.

The plant is the first of its kind in Guyana and attracts low operational cost, Nawbatt stated.

This project would represent the flagship of GWI’s operations in Berbice.

The second phase of the project, which would cover from No.73 Village to Moleson Creek, has been delayed, since the only contract bid was higher than the budgeted cost.

The second phase was scheduled to commence in March. Nawbatt said discussions are currently ongoing to determine the way forward.

This year’s budget also provides for the design and commencement of construction of three water treatment plants at Lima, Vergenoegen and Cotton Tree, which will benefit approximately 55,000 persons at a cost of $1B.

Minister Nawbatt noted that over $45M would be spent this year to improve water supply services to communities in the hinterland regions, to the benefit of some 5, 000 residents. The projects include four new solar systems and the upgrade of storage facilities at Whitewater in Region One and at Jawalla, Kamarang and Waramadong in Region Seven.

And the distribution network at Port Kaituma is slated to be expanded.