Over seven hundred residents of Nappi Village, Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), will be beneficiaries of a new well that was drilled to provide the community with easier access to potable water.
The drilling of the well was undertaken through a collaborative effort between the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Under the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP), the two parties are working towards increasing resilience of indigenous communities to vulnerabilities in the drought period, through improved water quality, access and storage.
As a result, Brazilian company, Fox Trading was contracted to drill the well, which was completed on Saturday, May 4, at a depth of 144 metres.
The initial water production from the well was witnessed by GWI officials along with the Toshao of Nappi Village, Region Nine, Guy Frederick, at approximately 23:00h on Saturday.
GWI is now tasked with installing distribution and transmission mains, pumps and service connections, while the UNDP is expected to erect a trestle with storage tanks, all of which will ensure residents are adequately served.
According to residents, the new well will ease their burden of having to walk approximately 600 metres downhill to fetch water for daily use.
One middle-aged resident, Egbert Frederick said he could not have believed his eyes when he saw the well being drilled.
Austin Domingo, 85 years of age, said he has reached the age where he can no longer walk long distances and fetch water since his knees are now weak. He thanked the Government of Guyana and other stakeholders involved in the project for supplying potable water to his community.
