Le Hunte: Less than 30 % get water 24/7

PUBLIC Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte says about 30 per cent of citizens are receiving water 24/7 in the dry season and described claims of "water for all" as a "farce."

He was responding to a question in the Senate yesterday from Opposition Senator Wade Mark, who asked about reports that residents of Four Roads, Tamana have not received a pipe-borne water supply for more than two years, and what was being done to rectify this situation.

Le Hunte said the information from WASA does not support the allegations and there has been an intermittent supply over the years. He explained the area is supplied with pipe-borne water from a rural intake which requires higher levels of chlorine being put in the water.This, he explained, results in a rapid build-up of calcium in the distribution network,which causes frequent clogging of the mains and leads to a disruption of the pipe-borne supply from time to time.

Le Hunte said as a temporary measure to supplement the supply to affected customers, the authority has installed seven 1,000-gallon capacity communal tanks at various points in the Four Roads, Tamana area which are replenished regularly. A truck-borne supply of water is also available to individuals on request.

Mark asked when WASA would take steps to provide the community with a 24-hour supply.

Le Hunte replied: "We have had a lot of clichés around this country about 'water for all.' The reality is that, coming into office, that again has been a myth. And there is not a constant supply of water for all in this country.

"So 24/7 water is something which we have to work to, and based on the information, less than 50 per cent, and especially during the dry season, less than 30 per cent of this country receive water for all (24/7)."

He said this administration is working towards achieving the goal of a more regular supply.

On the Four Roads area he said there was never a 24/7 water supply and added the area has grown to 450 households and about 1,300 residents. In addition to the intake that supplies the area, he said, there is a plan to take water from the North Oropouche area, and this requires putting down between five and seven kilometres of pipe. He reported the works were being scoped and funding will be sought in the Public Sector Investment Programme next year.