A $1.3 Billion Water Treatment Plant was commissioned at Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara over the weekend.

The new facility features a high-capacity design capable of treating 12 million litres of water per day, with a storage capacity of 3.6 million litres.

The plant, which was built by Sigma Engineers Ltd, is expected to serve over 10,000 residents from Cummings Lodge, Cummings Park, North Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt Park, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Lamaha Springs, Lamaha Park, Festival City, Tucville, Stevedore, and areas along Heroes Highway.

President Irfaan Ali said communities will be better served by the new facility.

“The provision of potable water comes at a very high cost—the pumps, the electricity, the chemical for treatment, the skilled staff and the maintenance all ad up. But as your President, I want to assure you, your government continue to subsidize water for you, we do this not because it is cheap but because it is essential,” the President said.

The President noted improvements that have been made in the water sector, noting that many of the problems of the past have been corrected.

“We had to embark on a massive programme of maintenance and capital injecting. Today, the picture has changed dramatically. National access to potable water has now reach 98.4% of our population, one of the highest in the Caribbean,” the President stated.

Additionally, the President described the facility as another major step in the transformation of Guyana’s water sector, one that places people and public health at the centre of national development.

He reminded that his government is financing the Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme at a cost of $40 billion to increase treated water coverage to 90% by 2025.

The programme will see the construction of seven new large water treatment plants, fifteen small plants, upgrading twelve existing plants, and installing 200 km of transmission mains.

The New Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant is one of three new plants constructed in Region 4, with plants also being constructed at Bachelor’s Adventure and Caledonia.

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