Wholesale MLB Jerseys k3ze3btf
| By Sharmain CornetteA grant which will facilitate a preliminary assessment of a section of the coastal aquifers within the Demerara Region was yesterday inked between the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).The grant is valued at $7.1M but an initial sum of $5.6M was handed over to GWI following a simple signing ceremony which was done at the WWF Vlissengen Road office. As part of the agreement GWI will make in-kind contribution worth some $4.5M.The assessment, according to WWF’s Aiesha Williams, is geared at assessing the physical properties of the groundwater reservoirs and ground water itself which will help in the formulation of a database.It is expected that the information within the database will increase GWI’s capacity to better understand changes occurring in the reservoirs and help to better manage the use of ground water. She said that the assessment will entail field testing to investigate key properties of the aquifers, such as the storage capacity and the ability of the aquifer to release water.As part of the project, the water quality will also be tested to assess the levels of heavy metals, chlorides and other substances,NFL Jerseys 2018, to give some insight into occurrence of contamination of the water supply.“Present investigation of the status of the groundwater reservoirs is necessary to clarify whether present water extraction rates are sustainable.” Increasing demand for water and the potential impacts from climate change may have further detrimental impacts on the coastal aquifers,” Williams highlighted.According to GWI’s Altaf Gafoor, the project will entail efforts being made by the water company to first make a quick assessment to determine what physical changes have occurred in the groundwater reservoirs. He underscored that about 80 percent of the local potable water needs are met by groundwater sources, thus there is need to pay close attention to the very important resource. As such he referred to the collaboration with the WWF as a ground breaking initiative.“We have done our review, we have done our theoretical write-ups and we will move to actual operation… hopefully in another six or eight months we will have final results that will feed into a national strategy,” Gafoor noted.He however added that the forthcoming results will not answer all of the questions that may arise as it relates to ground water but will help to bring focus to areas in which resources are required.Through the partnership effort it is expected that there will be a better understanding of sustainability of groundwater reservoirs and identify any threats to the aquifers functioning as a source of safe water for the public in the longer term. The results of the study will provide invaluable information for water management, promoting sustainable use of the underground water and provide guidance for further comprehensive studies.The WWF has stated its commitment to conservation and protection of natural resources and over the past 10 years has been providing technical and financial support to various agencies engaged in natural resources management in Guyana.According to Williams, the grant agreement provides an opportunity for WWF to directly promote conservation of natural resources but also contributing to maintaining a healthy water supply which is a vital resource.Another partner in the initiative which is expected to run for an eight-month period will also include participation from the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Technology, according to WWF’s Country Manager, Dr Patrick Williams.He disclosed that the initiative comes as part of a larger project engaged by WWF that falls under the thematic area of fresh water conservation and management. This project, he said is geared at addressing groundwater as well as surface water. Dr Williams noted that since a large part of local consumable water comes from the East Demerara Conservancy, issues of contamination, climate change, El Nino among other concerns that could affect water supply for agriculture and domestic use will be addressed. |
