Universal Earth Movers bags $1.7bn contract to improve water supply in Guyana

Canada-based Universal Earth Movers (UEM) has bagged a $1.7bn contract from public utility Guyana Water (GWI) for a water supply improvement project in the town of Linden, Guyana.

The Linden water supply rehabilitation programme (LWSRP) is being funded by the Guyanan Government through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and is aimed at improving the water quality by improving the infrastructure of the water supply network.

Under the contract, UEM will construct two water treatment plants, storage facilities and booster stations.

GWI chief executive Shaik Baksh said the LWSRP will not only improve the quality of the water supplied to the town but will also create job opportunities for the local skill.

"The success of the LWSRP also depends on the willingness of GWI Linden customers to partner with us on water conservation, protecting freshwater resources, and maintaining safe household water supply," Baksh added.

"for customers to enjoy higher levels of service, they must avoid wastage. We will be engaging all the treated water schemes in a conservation campaign via mass media and community meetings."

GWI also has plans to take up big civil works over the next five years to construct two new water treatment plants at Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc, install water transmission mains, build reservoirs and new booster stations, restore distribution systems, and replace leaky pipelines and service connections.

The public utility is also planning to hire a consultant to develop a strategy that will help the GWI prevent water loss and control non-revenue water usage, and improve water supply services.

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Image: GWI contracted Universal Earth Movers to improve water supply infrastructure in Guyana. Photo: FASTILY.