Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues on Friday announced the signing of a $12 billion contract with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the extension of the Coastal Water Treatment plan. The funding will be put towards five additional water treatment facilities.
“Work is expected to commence this month January 2025,” Rodrigues said at a yearend press conference on Friday.
The minister further acknowledged complaints about water quality and revealed the completion of the draft Strategic Investment Plan to further improve treated water on the coast.
The strategic plan will guide the development of treated water, address gaps in the network and cater for the expanding housing programme from 2025 to 2028.
“This strategic investment plan is valued at $28.3 billion dollars, so this will guide the future years,” Rodrigues stated.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues
It will include the drilling of 15 new wells, construction of four surface water treatment plants and two iron removal plants and is expected to benefit over 200, 000 residents.
Despite challenges in the water sector, Minister Rodrigues said it has also been a remarkable year for the ministry. She listed challenges such as disruptions caused by extensive construction and infrastructure development.
“We have a task force or committee that meets from GWI and CH&PA and the Ministry of Public Works, this entire country is a construction site, so a lot of the disruptions in the network are accidental, or you have contractor who did not seek advice or consult GWI to find out exactly where the pipe networks are,” Rodrigues explained.
She revealed that the majority of the incidents last year occurred along the East Bank of Demerara.
Minister Rodrigues further revealed that some contractors “would not report” if they caused an accident to the pipe networks but assured that the ministry is actively involved in rectifying leaks once it is not costly.
“We don’t go through any long bureaucratic process to get these things repaired…we don’t make the public wait for that to be fixed, we make an intervention through GWI to fix it,” she stated adding “if there is cost attached [then] the contractor has to fix it.”
Meanwhile, the century-old water transmission and distribution network in Georgetown also began upgrades last year.
So far, $2 billion has been spent on areas such as Avenue of the Republic, Broad Street to Pegasus Hotel.
In 2025, the ministry will be seeking an additional $1.5 billion to extend upgrades from Lamaha Street to David Street and from Water Street to Marriott Hotel among other areas in the city.
These upgrades aim to address gaps in the network, accommodate expansion, and provide higher water pressure and cleaner water.
Minister Rodrigues urged citizens to be patient with the disruptions the expansions will cause and stated that the improved water infrastructure will benefit all citizens.
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