$850m water treatment plant at Parika commissioned

A new $850 million water treatment plant at Parika, which will deliver treated, 24-hour water access to more than 14,000 residents in Region Three, was commissioned on Wednesday.

The modern facility can process 4.5 million litres of water daily — enough for 18 million cups of tea from the tap.

Constructed by Toshiba Water Solutions America Inc., the plant will serve residents in Ruby, Bushy Park, Hydronie, Parika, Lookout, Salem, Hyde Park, Roed-en-Rust, Blake, Hubu, St Lawrence, and Lookabu.

Speaking at the commissioning, President Dr Irfaan Ali described the facility as “another instalment of delivery”, noting that the investment reflects the government’s commitment to meet the needs of a rapidly developing region.

“Tens of thousands of you in Parika and surrounding communities now have access to treated water—something that speaks to dignity, to health, to a higher quality of life,” the President said.

The Parika plant is one of three new water treatment plants commissioned in Region Three — the others being at Wales and La Parfaite Harmonie.

Construction is also underway on treatment plants at Leguan and Vreed-en-Hoop. Meanwhile, facilities at Fellowship, Pouderoyen, and Vergenoegen are being upgraded to boost capacity and improve reliability.

President Ali said the interventions are aimed at enhancing household comfort and are part of the broader vision for a modern Guyana — one that is industrialising, urbanising, and building long-term water resilience.

As Region Three continues to expand in housing, agriculture, and commerce, the government is rolling out an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) strategy.

This includes upgrading transmission systems, improving power reliability, and building redundancy to prevent service disruptions.

“We are not where we need to be yet,” President Ali said, adding, “Industrial, agricultural, and household needs are all being met from the same water source. That’s not sustainable. This strategy is about long-term vision, about fuelling economic development and ensuring every Guyanese home has access to quality water.”

To achieve these targets, the President stressed the need to reorganise Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to improve responsiveness and efficiency.

Also speaking at the event, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensure every household in Region Three benefits from both treated water and a 24-hour supply.