Bartica water shortage worsens, GWI promises soon relief

Residents in Central Bartica, Region Seven have had their access to tap water cut off for several days and even as the situation worsened on Tuesday for families and businesses in the affected area, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has promised relief soon.

The water supply in central Bartica was disrupted on Saturday following damages to a major pipeline by a contractor who was conducting road rehabilitation work.

Residents living at Fourth and Fifth Avenues are worst affected and have complained that after three days of pleas to GWI, the water supply has not been restored yet.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GWI Shaik Baksh told the News Room on Tuesday that a team was sent to the area as soon as the report was made and water flow was expected to be restored already.

“A contractor broke an eight-inch main. That’s a big main, we only learned about it on Monday morning because it affected the water supply in Bartica on Saturday and Sunday. But it has been fixed now and things are back to normal,” the CEO said during a telephone call with the News Room.

A resident living on Fifth Avenue, who asked for anonymity, said up to noon on Tuesday people were without water. He said people have to rely on the water they had stored.

According to Baksh, the eight-inch pipes are “big” and the damages definitely caused persons to be affected. “They got reduced water supply and perhaps some areas had no water at all.”

Baksh explained that this is a recurring issue when contractors commence works in areas where major pipelines are laid.

“This is happening all over the place, the contractors are damaging our infrastructure and causing challenges to the water supply.”

“I have raised this issue over and over. It’s happening with contractors in the region, NDIA and so on, we are trying to work with them because on the East Bank that’s a big problem, every other week they are breaking a line.”

“When this happens, sometimes it takes a long time for it to be reported and for us to move in and get it rectified,” Baksh said.