Austin noted

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A total of $1.5B of this year’s national budget has been set aside to achieve the water sector’s objective of ensuring improved supply.In fact, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh revealed during his presentation of the budget on Monday that the allocation will facilitate works for the extension of the transmission and distribution mains. It is also expected to fund treatment plant rehabilitation/upgrade and borehole construction activities, benefiting over 100,000 persons.Under the Coastal Water Supply Programme, the sum of $850M has been allocated for improving water distribution in areas such as Hope, Calcutta, Lochaber, Anna Catherina, Diamond, DeHoop and Bartica. A substantial sum has also been allotted for works in Linden. The Finance Minister disclosed that a sum of $75M has been budgeted to focus on improving the reliability, functionality and integrity of the transmission and distribution systems at Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc, from which over 7,000 residents will benefit.A further $103M has been budgeted for provision of water to hinterland communities such as Sand Hills, Wiruni, Calcuni, Kariabo, Kwebanna and Mahdia, where over 5,000 residents will gain.According to Dr. Singh, the water sector continues to make significant strides as Government moves ahead in providing access to potable water. This year marks the third year of implementation of the water company’s Turnaround Plan, which Dr Singh said, saw a reduction in non-revenue water, due mainly to an increase in metering, service connection upgrades and increasing the number of customers that were paying for actual consumption, thereby aiding conservation.Last year, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) benefited from an even greater allocation in the sum of $3.4B. And this sum, according to the Finance Minister, attributed to the completion of the water treatment plants at Lima, Vergenoegen, Cotton Tree, Central Ruimveldt, Sophia and Corriverton. More than 100,000 persons reportedly benefited from improved water quality, Dr Singh added.According to him, notable achievements also included the expansion and improvement of water distribution networks at coastal locations. In addition, 15,000 service connections were upgraded and in excess of 5,000 water meters were installed.The hinterland water treatment programme in the past year saw the successful installation of seven solar photovoltaic systems, construction of three elevated storage tanks and completion of 23 shallow wells in Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10, from which some 30,000 residents benefited.As part of its programme last year too, the GWI was able to fulfil its promise of launching the national water conservation education campaign. And according to the Finance Minister, one of the major activities included the H2O Kids ‘N’ Action campaign, where 21 schools and over 1,500 students benefited from educational activities. This programme, he said, is slated to continue this year where 35 schools and over 2,500 students are expected to benefit.Sewerage SystemDr. Singh noted that the GWI has completed its mandate of updating its Sewerage Master Plan for Georgetown and Linden, which is complemented by the recently completed computerised model of the existing sewerage system. This, he said, has served to enhance the effective management of the system.This year will also see an allocation of $180M to commence implementation of the US$10M Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme. The focus of this project will be to improve the operational performance of the Georgetown sewerage system through the reconstruction of its most critical components, thereby improving the sewerage service to 52,000 residents.GWI’s Public Relations Officer, Timothy Austin, revealed recently that efforts by the Water Company to maintain the integrity of the sewerage system continue to be hampered by some persons who seek to dispose of undesirable items in the system. He revealed that “people are still dumping the wrong kinds of things into the system and these lend to the overflow problems we face.”But there have been some reductions, Austin noted, a development he attributes to the Water Company’s efforts to implement and sustain a public awareness programme. “Although we are still having these problems, there has been some reduction because a lot of awareness was done, particularly last year, via the mass media, and other educational avenues.”Educational activities also included the preparation and distribution of flyers, community interaction and the preparation of various advisories. These measures, Austin said, have served to create a higher level of awareness among the general public and hence have led to a noticeable reduction in the misuse of the system.In addition, GWI has been able to maintain a school education programme which aside from promoting conservation of water, also has a focus, how to protect the sewerage system from misuse.