Chamber prods gov't to build more water catchment
Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Lynn Knight yesterday urged the CNMI government to build more water catchment to lessen the island’s dependence on water wells.
As the planned water testings would entail a huge expense on most businesses, the availability of water reservoir will somehow ease the burden on establishments that were forced to build their own water wells since the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. cannot provide adequate supply.
Ms. Knight made her recommendation during a meeting with Neba Wendt, an official of the South Pacific Regional Environment Program, and the Division of Environmental Quality Director Ike Cabrera.
Ninety percent of the water supply in Okinawa, Japan, comes from water catchment built on the island.
“Maybe the government can explore this further as an alternative so that we do not keep on building water wells,” said Ms. Knight. A small water reservoir has been built in Kagman but this was mainly meant to serve the farmers in that area.
Businesses have criticized the expense in relation to the scheduled chemical monitoring of water wells on the island. DEQ has found chemical contamination in some water wells on the island based on the water testings earlier conducted. In one instance, contamination was found at a concentration greater than 60 times the CNMI drinking water standard.
According to DEQ, the potential risk of adverse health effects ranging from gastrointestinal disorders to diseases of the liver, circulatory system, reproductive system and cancer, are very real and can no longer be ignored.
The planned water testing is part of the CNMI regulations since 1997 and federal requirements since 1991. DEQ, which is responsible for implementing the CNMI’s Safe Water Drinking Water Program, regulates public water systems that provide water for human consumption to 25 or more people. CUC alone has more than 130 wells in Saipan and would cost the utilities firm over $4 million to have them tested.
The CNMI regulations require public water systems to sample for solvents and other man-made organic chemicals every three years. Within the three-year period beginning 1999, a water system must collect one sample every three months for four consecutive quarters.
In the second three-year compliance period (2002-2004), however, DEQ may be able to reduce or completely waive sampling requirements for some chemicals. DEQ can do this if information, including previous monitoring results, indicates contamination does not threaten a water system’s source of water.
