— New Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant to serve more than 10,000 residents His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali said that, with his Gov
— New Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant to serve more than 10,000 residents
His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali said that, with his Government’s continued strategic and expansive investment in the water sector, access to potable water across Guyana has reached a historic 98.4%.
The Head of State noted that with the commissioning of the new Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant on 18 October 2025, the Government will continue to make the necessary investments to ensure 100% coverage across Guyana.
“National access to potable water has now reached 98.4% of our population — one of the highest in the Caribbean. And understand this: when you go to the hinterland and the riverine areas — communities hundreds of miles apart — we still have totake water. There are many countries in the developed world that would not invest in such small communities because it does not make economic sense. They have to drill their own wells in their backyards. We invest because it makes human sense, and it’s part of us caring for our citizens.”
For hinterland and riverine areas, the President pointed out that access has doubled to approximately 92%, and is projected to further increase to 96% by the end of 2026.
“This progress did not happen by accident. It is the result of deliberate policy, strategic investment, and the hard work of the men and women of Guyana Water Incorporated, the former Ministry of Housing and Water, and now the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation.”
The President explained that, by the end of 2026 and the completion of five new Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)-funded treatment plants, the country will reach 95% coverage of treated water. This, he added, will be complemented by Phase Two of Guyana’s coastal treatment programme, which will eventually push treated water coverage across the country to 100%.
“Every dollar we spend today is an investment in tomorrow’s Guyana — a Guyana where clean water flows in every community, where no child goes to school without safe drinking water, and where no mother has to boil water before she can mix a baby’s formula.”
Modernising the water sector
Expounding on his Government’s strategic and expansive investment in the water sector, the President noted that more than 152 wells were drilled between 2020 and 2024, with the majority located in hinterland regions.
Over 200 kilometres of new transmission and distribution mains were laid to expand supply to thousands more homes.
“We’ve built seven new large treatment plants, upgraded 13 others, and constructed 18 small community treatment systems — together bringing treated water to more than 250,000 Guyanese for the first time. That’s 250,000 Guyanese who can fill their children’s bottles with water at home and send them to school.”
The President added that it is not only about increasing access to water, but also about providing quality water and a reliable system.
“We’ve also raised the standard pressure of our systems. In Regions 2, 5, 6, and parts of Region 7, water pressure now exceeds 15 feet — enough to reach your second floor. In Georgetown, too, pressure has improved significantly, and with the completion of two new wells later this month, residents will see an even stronger flow.”
He explained that all 144 wells across the country now operate 24 hours a day, and 21 of the 36 treatment plants are providing service around the clock, while the others are being upgraded to reach that standard within a year.
“We are building redundancy, resilience, and reliability — the three R’s of a modern water system. This means fewer disruptions of supply, cleaner water, and stronger service. In other words, water you can trust. Because let’s face it: what good is progress if it doesn’t flow into your home?”
New Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant
The new state-of-the-art facility features a high-capacity design capable of treating 12 million litres per day and storing 3.6 million litres of water.
It is equipped with four high-efficiency booster pumps to ensure stable supply pressure throughout the distribution network.
The plant is expected to serve over 10,000 residents from Cummings Lodge, Cummings Park, North Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt Park, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Lamaha Springs, Lamaha Park, Festival City, Tucville, Stevedore, and along Heroes Highway.