Essequibo residents benefit from improved water quality

Residents of Lima Sands in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region will be the newest beneficiaries of improved water quality, following steps by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to decrease the presence of iron in their water supply through the use of a product called SeaQuest.

According to a release from GWI, SeaQuest is dosed into the water at pump stations to help mitigate discoloration.

The total sum of dosing of SeaQuest at the Lima Sands pump station is valued at some GYD$3.6 million.

With the requisite equipment and materials being mobilized, residents of Lima Sands are expected to benefit from clear, odorless water before the end of August 2017.

Lima Sands gained a constant source of water supply from GWI earlier this year. This was as a result of the completion of a new well worth approximately GYD$117 million.

Previously, residents were accessing water through a creek or via rainwater harvesting.

However, since the completion of the well, customers have been receiving water with unusually high iron content.

The Essequibo Coast is known for the prevalence of high iron concentrations in water and GWI has implemented SeaQuest to significantly reduce its presence in a number of villages, with Lima Sands being the next on the agenda to benefit in the Region.

The well serves approximately 650 households, with a distribution network that comprises 14km of transmission and distribution lines and service connection installations.

Initially, six pump stations across the Essequibo Coast benefitted from the implementation of SeaQuestat a cost of GYD$22 million. This entailed the importation of SeaQuest, mixing it, purchasing tanks and pumps and the delivery to each site.The addition of Lima Sands brings the total amount of pump stations receiving SeaQuest on the Essequibo to seven.

SeaQuest is also being used at a number of pump stations on the coast of Guyana.

With this investment being pumped into the improvement of water quality supply on the Essequibo Coast, GWI is calling on customers to conserve on their water consumption and to make bill payment a priority.