CUC promotes safe water

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has assured island residents that the water it provides is safe for drinking and for other use, particularly from good sources such as those in Rota, Tinian, Capitol Hill and Kagman.

Pamela Mathis, CUC chief information officer, said its supply is treated with chlorine gas to kill harmful bacteria which may cause diarrhea and other sickness.

Although it is safe for drinking, the high salt content of the water may discourage consumers as some underground wells where CUC pumps its water are being contaminated by seawater, especially during drought.

To teach people to determine how safe their water is, CUC has launched an information campaign in schools and communities about a hands-on test they can do at home.

The government-owned utility firm provides a vial containing a Chlorine Reagent to households. Priced at $15 at piece, it is being made available for free by CUC with the assistance from the NMC Agriculture and Life Sciences.

In a demonstration at the CUC Water Quality Laboratory, technician Marciano Iglesias showed how it works — simply break the tip of the vial in a glass water until water seeps in.

If the water inside the vial turns into pink, it means the water source is treated with chlorine. If it remains transparent, it means it is not treated at all and is not safe for drinking. If it is dark pink, the chlorine content may be very high.

Mathis suggest residents to do this test at home, especially for those who get their water from a private source, such as rainwater catchment water tank and from their own well. in which they are not assured of its safety.

For self-treatment, Chlorox, the ordinary solution used in laundry, can be mixed with the water to kill harmful bacteria. Mathis said catchment tank should be covered to shield it from sunlight which is a major cause of bacteria in the tank.

This week has been declared by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio as Safe Drinking Water Week in the Commonwealth and CUC has lined up several activities to mark the event.

Aside from promoting water conservation, Mathis said there will be expression of protest against continuous contamination of the groundwater and the ocean as a result of relentless dumping of wastes on the island.

In Kagman, CUC has stepped up information drive on the need for residents to clean up their septic tanks regularly so that they will not affect the groundwater, one of the best source of high-quality water on the island.

The Water Quality Laboratory, in fact, conducts weekly test of the CUC water sources, including underground wells, pipeline and even household faucets as well as wastewater and the ocean to safeguard the environment and ensure safety.

“CUC treats water to ensure it is safe and to monitor that it has no harmful bacteria,” Mathis told in an interview yesterday. Benhur C. Saladores