May 7, 2020 - Georgetown, Guyana: As Guyana Water Incorporated continues to register an increase in water consumption due to new housing schemes and more recently the Coronavirus pandemic, it has recognized the need for more groundwater sources.
It is for this reason that the company has moved to purchase two drilling rigs to drill more wells along the coastland and the hinterland.
One of the rigs and a compressor, which were manufactured in Brazil and purchased at a cost of GYD$160M, arrived in Guyana recently and was commissioned by GWI today, May 7.
Speaking to the media at a simple ceremony today, Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles highlighted that improving capacity through groundwater production is part of the company's strategic plan.
Covid-19 he added, has more specifically highlighted the importance of water and the fact that GWI is an organization strategically placed to respond to the pandemic.
"From January to date there has been a 20 percent increase in water consumption and this rig has come at the right time", Dr. Van West-Charles said.
While the rig is expected to strengthen our in-house capabilities, the Managing Director also pointed out that the company is expecting equipment out of Holland that will be used to maintain and sustain wells across the country. This, he said, will address any existing gaps in serving the population.
Meanwhile, according to Executive Director of Operations Mr. Dwayne Shako, eight new wells are on the cards to be drilled on the coastland between now and 2021.
The first site identified for a new well is Central Ruimveldt. This will allow areas such as Roxanne Burnham Gardens, East and West Ruimveldt, which are currently receiving 12 hours of service, to be brought up to 24 hours.
Other areas that can expect new wells are Fyrish - Region 6, Tuschen - Region 3, Farm - Region 4 and Amelia's Ward - Region 10.
Shako also explained that the rig will allow GWI to complete drilling within a much shorter timeframe on the coast.
Vice Chairman of GWI's Board of Directors, Mr. David Dewar said the acquisition of the rig is history being remade since the utility once possessed a rig back in the 1980s. He congratulated management on this achievement, noting that it would significantly help to reduce the cost of drilling wells.
Chair of Board's Water Resources and Technical Committee, Mr. Gavin Todd said that as a body, the Board would have embarked on a number of capital projects aimed at providing safe water to the nation.
He added that this signals the company's ability to act in light of the nation's growing demand for water.
The rig, which was purchased with funding from the Government of Guyana, has the capacity to drill 1000 meters deep and was procured from Fox Trading, out of Brazil.
