Significant improvement ongoing at EDWC
- part of long-term strategy for better water management

Georgetown, GINA, December 20, 2007.

Effective water management remains a priority for Government and substantial investments are continually being channelled towards boosting efficiency of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), one of the country’s main water control system.
            At present, a number of activities are ongoing at EDWC to strengthen its embankment, establish better infrastructure for irrigation purposes and boost the Conservancy’s storage capacity.
These works were highlighted today during a media tour at EWDC led by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
It was observed that a section of the EDWC embankment at Greenfield was being strengthened with construction of revetment as a preventative measure against overtopping or breaches.
This is the type of approach, Minister Persaud pointed out that is being taken to ensure that vulnerable areas are identified and addressed immediately to prevent any further situation which may be likely to develop.

At Enmore, construction of a concrete intake structure is ongoing to ensure better irrigation services for sugar cane cultivation and other agricultural activities in East Coast Demerara Villages such as Enmore, Hope, Golden Grove and Nabacalis.
This project, which started several weeks ago is being done at a cost of approximately $26M and is expected to be completed early next year.  
Additionally, several waterways within the EDWC are being cleared to ensure better flow towards outlets discharging into the Demerara River primarily at Cunia. Discharge from the EDWC is being done at Kofi, Cunia and Land-of-Canaan along the East Bank Demerara.
The improvements are being carried out with long-boom excavators that were procured by Government specifically for such activities at the EDWC, some of which were recommended by the Task Force following the 2005 flooding.
At present, there are four excavators at the EDWC while other necessary resources were procured to implement the improvement works including pontoons to accommodate movement of the machines.  
In addition, the ongoing improvements are part of Government’s wider programme to enhance effectiveness of the Conservancy in light of climate change which results in short periods of intense rainfall and longer dry seasons.

Minister Persaud conducting a tour of the East Demerara Water Conservancy and inspecting  on-going works to strengthen its dam.

Under a Conservancy Adaptation Project, to be funded with support from the World Bank, approximately US$3.8M will be invested in activities such as various technical surveys and assessment that will provide information and data crucial to development of long-term interventions planned for the conservancy.
Additionally US$1.2M of the total project sum will be utilised on completion of the Cunia outlet which will allow for greater discharge capacity into the Demerara River.
  Close to $279M has already been spent to carry out various works at the EDWC for this year, while an additional $5M will be spent shortly to implement more improvement.
As a result of the works done, the Conservancy has so far dealt well with the heavy rains experienced during the current season. It is also noted that there was no need to open the Lama and Maduni sluices during the last May/June rainy season despite the occurrence of heavy rainfall and increased levels.
The level in the EWDC is still at a management point and efforts continue to be placed on strict monitoring and management on a 24-hour basis. Additional staff was recruited for such activities during the rainy period.

Wordsworth explained that some employees are stationed at the various outlets while there are other teams responsible for checking the dam on a daily basis. Regular checks and reports are done by the CEO and Chairman of the NDIA Walter Willis.
 The EDWC was developed in 1880 to channel several water sources, for a more efficient storage and distribution system from the Lama and Maduni river catchments. Its principal users are the sugar-cane plantations, rice and cash crop farmers of the East Coast and East Bank Demerara and Georgetown.

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