Two additional wells for Diamond Housing Scheme – GWI working to fix non-functioning well
Georgetown, GINA, June 8, 2016
Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) will drill two additional wells at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The water company is also expected to go to tender for a water treatment plant for area, which would be able take water from both the ground and the surface.
Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West Charles said the treatment plant along with the two additional wells will give a better degree of service for (water) security for the population.
At present, the only well in the area is unable to supply the area with adequate pressure. In addition, it has been non-functioning for a few days, resulting in further hardship to the residents in the area.
The well initially presented a problem in February, but that problem was diagnosed and fixed, with the solution lasting for about four months, until recently when the well started to show similar problems.
The CEO explained that the water company did not come earlier to the media, with the problem, because it is still unclear as to what exactly is the problem with the well. “We are beginning to have some indication, we do not have a full definite diagnosis as yet,” he said.
Dr. Charles further explained that the current well design is very new for Guyana. He said that the well is probably the only one without a conductor casing, and “maybe this could be one of the issues.”
“The well is just about four to five years of age but clearly because of the absence of the conductor casing, the water company thinks that is one of the contributory factors to the problem that is emerging,” he said.
He explained that the diagnosis and intervention for the well should take about two weeks. In the meantime however, the water company is ensuring that there is distribution of water via tankers to the residents in Diamond.
Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako, explained that in February, the water company found that mud was seeping from the outside into the well. He said that at the time, the water company had pumped water from the well for some time into the distribution system before it actually recognised the problem.
Remedial work was performed that the company thought best correct the situation, he said.
Shako explained that on Thursday, the water company had the indication that the well motor was damaged and there were signs that mud had seeped into the well again.
He explained that the company had done some chemical treatment on the well, “where we used aloe and lime to get the mud to settle, to use the well camera to see what is going on in the depth of the well.”
According to Shako, at present, GWI is only able to get visibility of about 150 feet. He advised that in the next few days the company will proceed with the chemical treatment of the remaining 500 feet of the well. This will allow for better visibility to “see what the problem is.” He said that once the company can assert this, a proper diagnosis and intervention will be undertaken.
GWI is expected to tender for the first well very shortly and that well is expected to be completed within the next three months
Meanwhile, GWI is advising customers of Diamond Housing Scheme, that the company will be delivering water via tankers to the following schedules and areas:
| Time | Street | Driver’s Name | Vehicle Number |
| 8:00am to 12:00 Midnight | 1st-6th Avenue | Mr. John and Mr. Carr | GVV 4698
GSS6751 |
| 8:00am to 12:00 Midnight | 7th-12th Avenue | Mr. Allicock and CDC | GVV4169
GJJ6574 |
| 8:00am to 12:00 Midnight | 13th– 12th Avenue | Prison Service & Mr. Ward |
Customers can contact the drivers on telephone numbers.
Mr. Carr: 616-2135
Mr. John: 681-2118
Mr. Newton: 643-1942; 621-2569
Mr. Ward: 647-7291
Customers can visit GWI’s Facebook page for updates.