Water desalination project pushed

The chair of the Senate public utilities committee has expressed support again for the much-delayed water desalination project on Saipan which the government plans to build to ease chronic water shortages in several areas on the island.

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez said he prefers this technology than the reverse osmosis plant that is now being considered by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Noting that residents tend to associate wastewater as dirty, he maintained it would cost the government more money to educate them when that type of technology is adopted here rather than water desalination.

Reverse osmosis turns liquid waste or brackish water into potable water fit for consumption, while desalination makes use of the ocean to process them into tap water.

While the former is less costly, Mr. Villagomez contended desalination is more suitable on Saipan which is surrounded by the ocean.

“I favor desalination although it’s more expensive than reverse osmosis,” he said. “And how much are we going to spend to educate our people that we can use wastewater, that it’s safe?”

“As soon as you say wastewater or sewer, our people will ask ‘What are you trying to do to us?'” added the senator.

Mr. Villagomez earlier joined discussion with members of the Legislature and CUC officials on water desalination and reverse osmosis as part of the efforts to seek ways to address acute water shortages on the island.

The group has yet to come up with consensus on which technology to apply here. “We would like to have further study and get more into desalination because we have open resource,” he said.

But the questions on the proposal remain whether the government is willing to spend more to construct a desal plant or pass the burden to residents who will have to pay higher water rates.

“Can we afford it? If we do afford the construction, can we afford the continued operation and maintenance of plant,” asked Mr. Villagomez.

The project has been in the planning board for the last 10 years, but has yet to get off the ground due to fears of high costs associated with it.

CUC abandoned the plan last year when a proposed $100 million project drew lukewarm response from residents and lawmakers due to the expected increase in water rates.

The House earlier has called on the government-owned utility corporation to revive its study on water desalination following complaints from Saipan residents about perennial lack of water service in several villages. (Benhur C. Saladores)