GWI spending $1B to replace old pipes across G/town

Works are expected to commence within the next week to replace the century-old pipes of the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI) Georgetown transmission system.

This venture is expected to cost some $1 billion.

While this will be done, temporary measures are being put in place to minimise any possible inconvenience to citizens during this period.

Works will see the replacement of pipes from the Georgetown transmission system, which are over 100 years old and cause frequent leakage and disruptions.

“Overall in Georgetown we have the transmission lines and distribution lines and these lines, some of them are over 100 years old and at this point in time a lot of these lines are breaking, leaking and collapsing.

“We have to replace a lot of these pipe lines because there is tremendous water losses here in Georgetown and its impacting on the level of service,” GWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh said on Thursday.

The resources and materials needed were already procured.

During a visit to the site on Thursday, Baksh said within the last month, the company received five reports which had to be addressed.

“We at GWI for the last month, at this location alone we had to come here five times because as we repair the lines and with the heavy traffic passing through what is happening, it is creating further leakages because of the ages of the lines.

“It is at a great cost to the utility,” Baksh said.

The massive project, Baksh said, will cause disruptions especially as it relates to traffic.

So, to mitigate the inconvenience, GWI, Executive Director of Projects, Marlon Daniels works will only be conducted in the evenings from around 7pm to 5am in the mornings.

“I want to highlight that the pipelines are going to be used now will withstand the traffic loads that this area is known for.

“These pipes that are here right now are cast iron pipes in the main…so they are now starting to decay and leak…We replace these…and we would not be having this sort of issue down the line,” Daniels said.

The project is expected to be completed within three months and will be executed by be C & L Construction Inc.