Water shortage in Annai because electric pump replaced by solar system

Dear Editor,

A $10.3 million dollar project under the Basic Needs Trust Fund was recently executed in Annai Village with the primary objective being to upgrade and improve the water system there.

Prior to this supposed ‘upgrade,’ Annai Village would receive water from a well which is located about a half mile away at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) compound in Annai. Water would be pumped daily with a submersible electric pump powered by an RDC generator into a large overhead storage tank located at the RDC compound. The water would then be distributed to the government buildings located at the RDC compound as well as Annai Village via a series of pipelines and stop valves. Because of the sheer size and power of the submersible pump and the depth of the well, water was not an issue then, and adequate amounts would be distributed daily.

Then along came the multi-million dollar upgrade to the system. The electric pump was removed and a solar pump was installed. That was when things started to go wrong. Firstly the solar pump for some reason can only work during the hottest hours of the day which is around 11 am to 2 pm.  The rest of the day when there is less intense sunlight the pump does not even come on. It therefore means that because of the limited time-frame when the solar pump can actually work there is barely enough water being pumped for the RDC buildings located at the RDC compound much less the residents of Annai Village.

Secondly, in inclement weather the solar pump cannot work at all, so it begs the question as to what will happen during the rainy season. One wonders if any reasoning or thought was given to this factor when the powers that be were envisaging this project.

Thirdly, a trestle approximately forty foot in height was built in the village on which a number of water tanks were placed. It was expected that water from the storage tank at the RDC compound would fill these tanks and then the water would be distributed to households via an assortment of pipelines. To date the tanks have never been filled and just serve as white elephants. What a waste of money and resources! Only in Guyana do you find such wanton wastage and exorbitant overspending on projects that do little or nothing to improve the lives of the project beneficiaries.

It is now the height of the dry season and the small water holes in Annai Village are drying up, and those few that do have water are of poor quality for consumption and have a terrible odour. Now more than ever the residents of Annai need clean potable water and none is forthcoming due to a basic oversight by those empowered to make decisions for the benefit of the people.

I am kindly asking those in authority not only at the regional level but at the ministerial level to look into this matter with urgency and alacrity because the residents of Annai are suffering and no one seems to care.

Yours faithfully,

L Mack