Regulatory framework
"Law regulating the ownership, management, control, protection and conservation of water resources, the supply of drinking water, sewage services and advisory services, as well as their regulation and related matters."
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Law for the management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment, the prevention or control of pollution, the evaluation of the impact of economic development on the environment, the sustainable use of natural resources and other issues.
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An Act establishing the East Demerara Water Reserve for the purposes of improving the supply of water in East Demerara, establishing the management of the reserve and other related purposes.
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Law that authorizes commissioners appointed under the law regulating the conservation and distribution of fresh water to make and enforce laws, as well as to provide for sanctions.
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An Act for the establishment of the Guyana Water Authority and related matters.
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Law creating the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority. Authority to ensure that water resources are located, evaluated, conserved and used for the greatest national benefit through appropriate water management strategies and water use planning; to make drainage and irrigation systems operate sustainably, to increase the participation of farmers through water user associations, local government bodies, farmers' associations or private entities in planning, development, operation, maintenance and management of drainage and irrigation services; to define the powers and duties of the Authority, and for matters relating thereto.
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The National Drought Mitigation and Adaptation Plan is a national policy with an intersectoral approach. The purpose of the policy is to facilitate proactive, coordinated and effective planning, preparedness, mitigation, adaptation, response and recovery activities in Guyana in response to the risks and impacts of drought.
This policy establishes strategies for the prevention, mitigation and management of drought and its impacts through the implementation of a drought surveillance and early warning system; drought vulnerability and risk assessment; and measures to limit the impacts of drought and better response to drought. A data infrastructure and management systems will be developed for the collection and analysis of drought-related data in a timely and systematic manner.
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Institutional Framework
Ensure the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that facilitate the development of agriculture and fisheries in Guyana, thereby contributing to the improvement of rural life, sustainable improvement in the income of producers and other participants in the production chain and agricultural marketing; and the maintenance of a solid physical and institutional environment for present and future productive activities.
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Between 1983 and 1994 they were responsible for the management and operation of drainage and irrigation networks outside the sugar industry. Since 1994, they have acted as agents of the NDIB, which absorbed these responsibilities.
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The National Drainage and Irrigation Board (NDIB) is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of drainage and irrigation infrastructure in the Declared Drainage and Irrigation Areas, which total 166,112 ha.
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The Mahaica Mahaicony Authority (MMA) was established in 1977 as a corporate entity to develop land and water control facilities in the coastal areas between the Berbice and Mahaica rivers.
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The Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commissioners (GS&W.C.) is responsible for the care, inspection, maintenance and management of Georgetown's sewer and water works.
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The East Demerara Water Conservancy was conceived both for irrigation and flood control and to improve the domestic water supply to the city of Georgetown. It is managed by a Council of Commissioners and supplies irrigation water to agricultural areas in Region 4.
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The Boerasirie Reserve was designed primarily for irrigation. It is managed by a Council of Commissioners. Provides irrigation to agricultural areas in region 3.
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The Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA) has defined responsibilities that will enable it, over time, to assume Guyana-wide control and management of more than just the supply of fresh water. The law by which the GUYWA was created had, among other things:
(a) Control and regulate the collection, production, treatment, storage, transmission, distribution and use of water and issue orders in this regard.
(b) Construct, acquire, provide, operate and maintain hydraulic works and develop and make water supplies available to the public.
The Hydroelectric Power Division under the Hydroelectric Power Law. Its job is to ensure that all potential hydroelectric sites are and remain State property, subject only to any prior rights that may have been appropriated by private individuals or other authorities before 1956, the year this Act was passed.
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The duty of the Councils is to provide an adequate and sufficient supply of water for sanitary and domestic purposes, for fire fighting, and for private use, in the City of Georgetown and the City of New Amsterdam.
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Provide safe, adequate and affordable water and ensure safe sewage systems to improve public health and sustainable economic development.
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The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) serves as Guyana's apex organization dealing with all public matters relating to the management, improvement, expansion and provision of drainage infrastructure and services. , irrigation and flood control in the declared areas of the country. Created in 2006 by the Parliament Act No. 10 of 2 004, the Drainage and Irrigation Act, the Authority has developed an institutional structure in terms of water resources management strategy and water use planning with the main objective of locating , evaluate, conserve and distribute the country's water resources for agricultural purposes.
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Improve the quality of life of Guyanese by promoting the development of cohesive, empowered and sustainable communities (CESC) through collaborative and integrated planning, good governance and successful service delivery.
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The Environmental Protection Law empowers the Agency to supervise the environmental activities of all persons. The Agency is a regulatory body with the authority to grant or not grant permits for development projects that will impact the environment. As a regulator, the Agency must also oversee development activities and enforce the provisions of the Act. EPA's work is organized into technical program areas, supported by the Departments of Operations and Corporate, Human Resources, Finance and Communications.
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Guyana is an Amerindian word that is said to mean "land of water". Numerous rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean, usually in a northerly direction. The Essequibo, the most important river in the country, runs from the Brazilian border in the south to a broad delta west of Georgetown. The rivers of eastern Guyana cross the coastal zone, making it difficult to move from east to west, but also limiting access to inland waters. , Guyana has four main rivers - Berbice, Corentyne, Demerara and Essequibo - and a large number of smaller rivers, streams and streams.The Essequibo River drains more than half of the country and is an important river by international standards.
Guyana
Water Action Hub
Links of interest:
The groundwater system comprises three aquifers. The "upper" sand is the least deep of the three aquifers and its depth varies from 30 to 60 m, with thicknesses ranging from 15 to 120 m. It is not used as a water source because of its high iron content (>5 mg/l) and salinity (up to 1,200 mg/l). Most drinking water is obtained from the two deep aquifers.Individual owners use rooftop water harvesting systems with cisterns as a secondary source of water supply. Georgetown has a demand of 20 million gallons per day, of which about 8 million come from surface water and 12 million groundwater.