Bulkan shifts ground on use of Antinfek for water purification by GWI

Bulkan said no decision was taken to use the chemical and maintained that GWI was still using chlorine in addition to lime and alum to treat and purify its water.

Bulkan shifts ground on use of Antinfek for water purification by GWI

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan told the National Assembly on Friday that the controversial water purifier – Antinfek – was not being used by the Guyana Water Inc. as a chemical to decontaminate water before it is used by citizens.

But moments after providing that information to the House, Bulkan admitted that the chemical was used by the utility company to purify some water supply lines.

Bulkan was responding to questions posed by Opposition MP, Dr. Frank Anthony who wanted to find out whether the chemical was being used for purification of drinking water in Guyana.

Dr. Anthony quizzed the Minister on whether a decision was taken to use Antinfek instead of chlorine by GWI.

Bulkan said no decision was taken to use the chemical and maintained that GWI was still using chlorine in addition to lime and alum to treat and purify its water.

Bulkan said the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had written to GWI following reports of this chemical being used.

Earlier on Friday the management of GWI met with the PUC and provided complete answers to similar queries and concerns.

The Minister assured that the chemical is not being used at any locations at which treated water is provided by GWI.

Although he insisted that chlorine was the sole disinfectant, Dr. Anthony pressed Bulkan on why GWI had bought the chemical, in what quantity and for what purposes.

In response, Bulkan said he will provide complete answers to the questions before the next sitting.

Bulkan said the chemical has been proclaimed as a safe product for purposes relating to human hygiene.

He said too that Antinfek was used in Guyana prior to now.

But an unsatisfied Dr. Anthony continued to press the Minister on why the product was bought.

Bulkan then revealed that 100 liters of the product was bought and it was procured for testing purposes.

When pressed further on where the testing took place, Bulkan then indicated that some of the product was used to purify some water supply lines.

The Speaker did not allow any further questions on the issue.

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