The Georgetown Waterworks

In the early days, domestic water supply in the City of Georgetown was obtained from limited artesian wells together with rain water stored in vats and tanks. In 1825, the creation of the Lamaha Canal was proposed to bring fresh water from Lamaha Creek into Georgetown. The canal was completed using slave labour. Along the length of the Lamaha Canal, plantations and villages tapped into it based on a cost-sharing agreement. Water for fire-fighting was also needed. In 1864, Water Street was the business center of Georgetown and was devastated by two fires. The first fire flattened nearly all of Robbstown while the second destroyed Cummingsburg. The British Guiana Court of Policy reacted immediately by passing ordinances to guard against future fires. The resulting actions included wider streets, drainage and sewage improvements, and improving the physical layout design of Robbstown. Another major improvement in 1866 was the creation of the Georgetown Waterworks at Camp and Church Streets, and laying out of water mains in the city for mainly fire fighting purposes. The water originated from the Lamaha Water Conservancy and flowed along streams and canals to the Georgetown Waterworks, and then it was pumped from a reservoir into the street mains. This canal has now been filled-in to become the Merriman's Mall. In 1886, an ornate drinking fountain was erected at the current Cenotaph location to celebrate the completion of the Georgetown Waterworks. The images show scenes about the Georgetown Waterworks in British Guiana.

Image 01 - The Camp and Church Street entrance of the Georgetown Waterworks (1900s).

Image 02 - The filters of the Georgetown Waterworks (1900s).

Image 03 - Perspective view of the filters at the Waterworks (1900s).

Image 04 - Drinking fountain marking the completion of the Waterworks (1900s).

Sources

[Image 01] - New York Public Library, 1900s.
[Image 02] - New York Public Library, 1900s.
[Image 03] - Stabroek News, Guyana.
[Image 04] - Unknown.