Increased supply and strengthened monitoring mechanisms of water by the Guyana Water Incorporated has resulted in the agency increasing its revenue to over $5B for 2019.

The announcement was made today by GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Richard Van West Charles at the agency’s end-of-year press conference.  

It was revealed that the $5.1B collected by GWI for this year from customers, represents a more than 20% increase in revenue collection compared to the previous year. 

Credited for this success is the fact that 99% of GWI’s customer database was billed, even as there are ongoing efforts to have more access to potable water in all corners of Guyana. 

Presently, 97% of Guyana’s coastland population has access to potable water, while 85% of the hinterland population has access to same.

Dr. Van West Charles boasted that among the agency’s accomplishments for the year, was achieving 100% water quality testing countrywide – or 66,000 tests – to ensure that the water supply is compliant with the standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO).  

According to GWI, between 95% – 100% of all final water supplied to customers meets the WHO health-based guidelines. 

Additionally, it was highlighted that major maintenance works were carried out on wells to ensure 24hrs supply and improved level of service nationwide, while major water treatment plants at Diamond, Uitvlugt, and Sheet Anchor were completed and are in final phase of testing. 

For 2019, over 45 km of pipelines were also laid to provide first time access to water, and replace deteriorated pipelines. 

On the Coastland, Dr. Charles revealed that each region benefitted from upgrades or installation for first time access to water, while in the hinterland, GWI continues to invest significantly in the improvement of infrastructure to provide access to potable water. 

For this year, more than $260M was invested by GWI in the hinterland, which resulted in over 5000 thousand residents benefitting from first-time access to potable water. 

At the same time, GWI is working on establishing a mini-laboratory within the hinterland department to carry out more frequent routine monitoring throughout regions one, seven, eight, and nine. 

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