Rota water supply drops to critical level • But CUC board member disputes claims by deputy director

Rota residents may face water rationing by tomorrow after the Water Cave, its prime source of tap water, has fallen “alarmingly” below the normal level in the past few weeks, according to officials.

Antonio Reyes, deputy director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. for the island municipality, called for immediate help from the central office to avert what he said as “inevitable” water rationing there.

The measure will be implemented by Saturday, April 29, or early next week, he told a CUC board meeting yesterday. He asked the U.S. Geological Survey to pump additional 650,000 gallons a day to prevent the situation from worsening.

Mr. Reyes refused to talk to reporters when sought for detailed information on the planned rationing.

But Laura I. Manglona, CUC board member representing Rota, contradicted his report of a water crisis in her municipality, saying that there has been no problem of water shortages on the island.

She noted that the main reservoir has been under renovation for the last few weeks, which could have led to low water pressure in some areas, particularly in Songsong village.

“The water closed to the reservoir has to be limited because… it’s far from the water pump,” Ms. Manglona told reporters in an interview during a break in the meeting.

Describing water service to her residence as “good,” she stressed there is no need for Rota residents to worry as any water problem may just be temporary in light of the ongoing project.

“Once it is completed, the water will be fine,” explained the board member. “The only thing that we need is that we should learn how to conserve water.”

Pamela Mathis, CUC’s chief information officer, even said that there are three new wells drilled on Rota by the utility corporation under a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA.

The funds were provided to the CNMI to address serious droughts on the islands brought about by El Nino two years ago. CUC used the money to determine other water sources on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

While the Rota wells are now available to provide water to residents, Ms. Mathis said the island government has yet to construct waterline to link them with the main water system.

At least $150,000 will be needed to build the pipeline from the well nearest to the community, which is about 2.5 miles. The Rota legislative delegation has to reprogram surplus funds from a local water distribution project undertaken by CUC earlier to build this pipeline, according to Ms. Mathis.