“The Guyana Story” by Odeen Ishmael stated that one of the major problems that Georgetown faced was the availability of water for domestic use.
Ishmael reported that in 1825 one of the leading citizens, Dr Michael McTurk, proposed the construction of a canal to bring water from the Lamaha Creek, some distance south of Georgetown. The author added that the proposal won support from both the central government and the town council, and by 1829, a canal from the Camuni Creek to Georgetown was completed with the use of the labour of hundreds of slaves.
According to Ishmael, in the town itself smaller canals branching off from the Lamaha Canal were dug and these provided the supply of water to the residents. It was not until 1885 that the people of Georgetown began to get their water supply through pipes after mechanical pumps were purchased by the council.
“The Story of Georgetown” by James Rodway mentioned that “it appears there was already a small canal at the back of Cuming’s Lodge known as Ward’s Trench, dug by Mr. Ward of Industry to connect with No. 3 Canal; this was to be enlarged and continued to the Lamaha Creek at the expense of the estates, and a connection made for the town by a trench 12 ft wide on the level, 6 ft at the bottom, and 5 ft deep…”
Rodway went on to say that on “October 29, 1829, an Act for the better preservation of the Lamaha Fresh-Water Canal and Reservoir within the precincts of Georgetown recites that a canal and reservoir have been formed”.
