In as much I have reported here within these columns over the past years that the villages of Cumberland and Canefield in East Canje have been receiving water from the Cumberland pumping station for only eight hours per day, wanton wastage of water is rampant in these two areas. I discovered this for myself recently as I visited a resident in Canefield ( Welfare Centre Street [ 4TH Street ]) and saw the occupants of the neighbouring home wasting this most precious commodity.

I took three pictures of the wastage in progress, which included one of which the occupant was comfortably seated somewhere in the yard and the tap was turned on and water was flowing continuously over a filled bucket. The tap seemed to be old and broken as it was turned upside down, and it was not until about one hour of continuous wastage of the water that the tap was turned off.

I also captured another picture of the Cumberland pumping station and water was being wasted there too. Water was spurting out in a massive flow out of the main valve that transfers the water to the main pipeline leading out of the station. I would suggest the water-utility company do some in-house cleaning of its own before it urges customers not to waste water.

Finally, these areas of Cumberland and Canefield– whichever village’s turn it is to receive water from 12:00pm- 8pm—would more than often receive water the entire night until the next day. This is very good, except to ask who utilise the services of GWI late into the night or all night. Many persons leave their taps on throughout the night and the water is being wasted. Can GWI tell me who will use their taps to collect water during these late- night hours? Then also, during power outages or otherwise, many persons also leave their taps on. Many forget about them when the power returns and water begins to flow.

We must not forget that many countries and millions of people long for one drop of the water that is continuously wasted not only in East Canje but in other areas in Guyana . We need to turn off the tap that is not in use, repair every single leaking pipe within our plumbing systems at home, ensure we pay attention whenever our tanks are filled and they are running over which should signal us to turn off the water going to the tanks, be more vigilant of our receptacles at the stand- pipe, and I urge GWI to repair the leaks at its pumping stations as well.
LEON J SUSERAN