IN an effort to address the growing demand for water supply in Mayaro and its surrounding areas, the Ministry of Public Utilities’ National Water Sector Transformation Programme (NWSTP) has commenced the construction and commissioning of three new wells.
The project aims to enhance the water infrastructure in the region and cater to the needs of approximately 6,000 residents, a release from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) stated.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of these wells, named Mayaro #18, #19, and #20, took place on Wednesday at Cedar Grove Road, Mayaro. Once completed by June, each well is expected to produce 120,000 gallons of water per day, thereby restoring the Mayaro Water Treatment Plant to its original capacity of 500,000 gallons of water per day.
The increased water supply will benefit several communities, including Peter Hill, Solomon, Alexis and Panhandle Street, Mafeking, Cedar Grove Village, Manzanilla Road, Lewis and Sucre Street, Plaisance Village, Gill Street, St Ann’s Road, side streets and the Mayaro town centre.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales emphasised the necessity of such projects due to the lag in water infrastructure development compared to the rapid growth of communities across the country.
The minister said WASA currently faces a demand and supply issue and needs to develop additional groundwater sources. To address this, the authority’s programme of well development will be pursued vigorously over the next 15 months, including the commissioning of 18 new wells this year alone, he said.
In addition to the three wells, the Mayaro region will also benefit from a new Water Treatment Plant and six additional wells. These developments are expected to have a significant positive impact on the local tourism industry, according to Member of Parliament for Mayaro Rushton Paray, who was present at the ceremony.
Officials, including Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Raymond Cozier, and representatives from WASA, such as Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Romain and Deputy Chairman Alston Fournillier, joined the ceremony. The presence of these individuals demonstrated their commitment to improving water infrastructure and meeting the expanding needs of the Mayaro community.
As the construction work progresses, the Ministry of Public Utilities, in collaboration with WASA, aims to ensure a sustainable water supply for all residents and enhance the overall development of Mayaro and its surrounding environs, the release stated.
