The Guyana Water Incorporated [GWI] has promised the gift of 24-hourswater supply to customers of Plaisance and Ogle, East Coast Demerara in time for the Christmas season, following the production of water for the first time at the newly drilled Sparendaam well. This comes on the heels of approximately four weeks of drilling and seven weeks of preparatory works.
The total cost of the Sparendaam well is approximately GYD$40 million and it will serve approximately 2000 customers.
Earlier this year, a contract was signed between GWI and De Ruiter Groundwatertechneik, to the tune of five hundred and fifty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five Euros (€ 552,855) for the drilling of three new wells at Diamond, Sophia and Sparendaam, Region 4.
Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles and other senior, technical officials toured the well site on Wednesday, November 22 to assess the progress of works and update the media on the project.
The Sparendaam well is the second of three wells being drilled by Dutch firm De Ruiter Groundwatertechneik – the first was recently completed in Diamond and the third location is Sophia.
The well at Sparendaam comes at an opportune time, since there has been a sudden reduction in production at existing well at that location. The new well was drilled at a depth of 764ft. With this depth, the well is producing 200 meter cubes of water per hour (200m3/hr), which is equivalent to approximately 100, 450-gallon black tanks of water per hour.
De Ruiter Groundwatertechneik is utilizing a new method of drilling known as reverse circulation. This method is carried out by using compressed air, which also acts as the medium bringing the drill cuttings (Soil Formation), up to the serface. Additionally, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casings are being used, as opposed to steel casings, giving the well an estimated lifespan of 30 years.
Dr. Van West-Charles highlighted that the utility is aware of the other areas with high demand and noted that the company is exploring those communities with the aim of providing improved service.Therefore, villages along the East Coast corridor in areas such as Better Hope will benefit from such works.