Protecting precious water sources

Under pressure from village homestead applicants for residential lots, we’ve caved into such demands as to forego the appropriate emplacement of basic infrastructure in homestead subdivisions.

The Division of Public Land isn’t at fault in this matter. As much as it wants to complete the emplacement of basic infrastructure such as water, power and sewer, it is usually overwhelmed by request from applicants and politicians to speed-up issuance of village homestead permits. It needs both hands to work with but we prefer tying the other hand behind its back.

Such pressure has resulted in a serious problem with water lenses that sit atop such village homestead subdivisions as Dandan, San Vicente, Lower Tuturam and Kagman. In other words, there are places (residential and commercial) where leaching fields are basically empty even on rainy days. The question that comes to mind: is there a leak in leaching tanks even with DEQ specifications followed to the letter?

This isn’t intended to point fingers at any specific government agency given that it is a collective anomaly that started with homestead applicants clamoring for residential lots. The decision to grant applicants homestead permits (without the appropriate emplacement of basic infrastructure) triggers off the domino effect of obvious neglect to protect precious water lenses.

Dandan homestead subdivision sits atop one of the best water lenses in southern end of the island. It is without sewer facility and the use of septic and leaching tanks isn’t a guarantee that protection of the water lenses is fully intact. There are residential and commercial septic and leaching tanks that have remained suspiciously half-full or empty altogether. Percolation isn’t necessarily good in these places but perhaps there are leaks that allow septic water to silently find its way into water lenses.

It is a health concern that warrants serious review. The joint effort of pertinent agencies is needed (local and federal) to address and resolve the emplacement of sewer facilities in every homestead subdivision. It’s the only sure way to protect precious water lenses throughout the island. Let’s begin the review process and not wait until the eleventh hour when water service had to be shut down because of serious contaminants in usable water that comes from polluted water lenses. Si Yuus Maase`!