Water resource monitoring…A major project to better monitor the levels of Guyana’s water network system has been launched with Government saying that it will reduce duplication of work by its key agencies and allow for improved decision-making.The information system, to be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydrometeorological Service, will link data between the Hydromet, the Guyana Sugar Corporation, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Guyana Water Incorporated, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Guyana Forestry Commission.Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, speaking with stakeholders` yesterday at the Ministry, Regent Road.It will include, also, information from the Ministry of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission and the water users associations,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, among others.Called the National Water Information System (NWIS),Cheap Wholesale Jerseys, reports generated from the database will allow authorities to determine how dangerous the levels of the water conservancies and how much rainfall has been recorded in a particular area during a specific period.The database, which will be accessed via internet, will also use geographic information system (GIS) and will even allow users and possibly new investors on rainfall patterns in a particular area.As of now, only the government agencies and other stakeholders groups will have access.According to Hydromet’s Haymawattie Danny, the project was made possible with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and conservation group, World Wildlife Fund (WWF).JICA contributed the hardware while WWF funded the cost for the programmes.The database will allow images,Jerseys NFL Cheap, videos and text to be uploaded.The integrated sharing of information will ultimately allow authorities to make on the spot decisions on real time information, crucial information that can help in cases of disaster management.WWF’s Country Representative, Dr. Patrick Williams,NFL Jerseys Clearance, noted that his organization has been concerned for decades about the state of the globe’s water management. The prolonged drought in Africa, with people dying by the thousands, is clear indications of the problems.With weather changes and the 2005 floods being examples of the ravages, the official made it clear that access to information in a hurry is crucial to the decision-making process to tackle the challenges.Dr Williams also made reference to hinterland activities like mining and forestry which can also have impact on water. In some areas, the use of mercury and turbidity of water have affected the residents in the area and WWF has had to lend assistance.He lauded the project and warned that for it to work, it must include a multi-sectoral approach.According to JICA’s Osamu Nakazawa, his agency has worked with a number of Caribbean organizations to help tackle climate change and has started working with Guyana to place early warning systems in the East Demerara Water Conservancy areas.Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who launched the project, in stressing the importance of water, pointed to projections by the US’ EPA which forecast 36 states facing water shortages in two years.Currently,NFL Jerseys Supply, Texas is facing a drought with even oil production affected.Water, he said, is a major use in agriculture,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, as a source of energy, for mining and for drinking.In Guyana, there was a system if compartmentalization, which meant that the various Government agencies were collecting their own information without any immediate ways to link them in a hurry.NWIS, the Minister said, will revolutionalize the way how Guyana handles its water resources and will be utilized by all stakeholders.Initially the service will be accessed by government agencies and stakeholders but eventually it will be available to others for a fee.Currently Hyrdromet has weather stations around the country. GuySuCo also has its own information collection system. NDIA also manages its own system at the conservancies.NWIS will be collecting the data and spewing it into usable information.
