Ongoing CUC projects to resultin water service interruptions

Due to new water tank construction projects, customers of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will be experiencing water services interruptions from time to time, according to CUC executive director Alan Fletcher.

“CUC wishes to remind customers of several ongoing capital improvement projects that may periodically interrupt normal water service. Such interruptions will continue throughout the construction period,” he said.

The interruptions will include reduced water service hours, reduced pressure, and /or occasional shutdowns.

“We encourage customers to practice water conservation so that water service can be sustained at the highest level under these circumstances,” Fletcher said.

CUC has several ongoing water tank projects for replacement in Puerto Rico and Papago.

The replacement of the Puerto Rico reservoir is being undertaken by the Water Task Force to address the critical need for continued reliable water storage in Puerto Rico and neighboring communities.

“CUC inspection revealed the failure of roof support rafters and other weaknesses in the tank that threatened catastrophic failure,” he said.

Customers being served by the Puerto Rico tank will be experiencing interruptions in water services for the next six months. Areas include: Puerto Rico, lower Navy Hill, Lower Base, central Garapan (points south to the new True Value Hardware store), and possibly Tanapag, San Roque, and Marpi.

The replacement of the Papago reservoir is being done by CUC. Customers in the area will also experience water service interruptions in the next six months. Areas include: Papago, San Vicente, Katbon Drive, and possibly Dandan, As Lito, and Fina Sisu (if heavy demand in the Dandan tank service, area needs to be augmented by Papago).

“There are temporary tanks with limited storage serving in place of the Papago reservoir to mitigate water service interruptions while the permanent tank is constructed,” Fletcher said.

Upcoming water tank projects

The Gualo Rai and San Vicente reservoirs will also be replaced in the near future.

Fletcher said the Gualo Rai reservoir has severe corrosion on the tanks shell, threatening its serviceability but temporary storage will be planned to provide limited water service to Gualo Rai community. Those that will be affected is only Gualo Rai.

For the San Vicente replacement on its reservoir, CUC engineers and tank inspection consultant determined that the tank should be replaced as soon as funding is available. Until the tank is replaced, the water level in the tank has been reduced to ensure tank safety. Due to the lower level, water service hours may be reduced periodically and service pressures will be lower.

Those that will be affected include San Vicente, Naftan, and Obyan.

“CUC encourages all customers in the affected communities to conserve water and those that have water tanks and cisterns to take steps to make sure that their on-site equipment is fully functional and sanitary. CUC will announce when the new tanks are completed and in service such that reliance on on-site storage and pressure systems can terminate,” Fletcher said.

For more information or inquiries call CUC’s water division at 322-5030/31 or the Call Center at 664-4282.