Almost 40, 000 persons to benefit from water treatment plants at Cummings Lodge, Caledonia

The government is pushing ahead to deliver on its promise of 90 per cent treated water for all coastal residents by 2025 and already two water treatment plants are under construction with the tender recently closed for five additional plants in coastal communities.

On Wednesday, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues visited the plants under construction at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown and Caledonia, East Bank Demerara.

Works on the Caledonia water treatment plant are said to be ahead of schedule, with a completion date set for July of this year. Once completed, over 12, 000 residents between New Hope to Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara will benefit.

The minister lauded the effort of the contractor and explained that the Caledonia Water Treatment plant is one of the three new ones being constructed in Region 4 under the Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme (CWTIP).

Residents of New Hope, Friendship, Garden of Eden, Supply, Relief, Support, Land of Canaan, Coverden, Pearl, Caledonia and Soesdyke will benefit from this water treatment plant.

Meanwhile, Minister Rodrigues expressed her satisfaction with the progress made so far at the Cummings Lodge plant and said the completion of this facility will mark another significant contribution to improving the quality of life for thousands of citizens.

Once completed, the treatment plant and well will serve over 25,000 residents in Cummings Lodge, North and South Ruimveldt, Festival City, Lamaha Park.

Treated water for coastal residents stood at 52 per cent in 2020 and is now roughly at 55 per cent. To support these efforts, new wells are being developed and inline filters are being installed at 15 smaller and existing plants.

Transmission mains and distribution networks are also being upgraded.