For possible contamination Use of water in 7 areas halted

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation yesterday advised residents of seven areas in Southern Saipan to stop consuming water from Isley and Obyan well fields until official results of jet fuel spillage investigation are released.

In compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, CUC officials advised residents of Chalan Kanoa, Susupe, San Jose, Chalan Laulau, As Perdido, and airport area should not consume water from their faucets as a result of the jet fuel leakage incident two weeks ago.

Corporate Communication Special Advisor Pamela Mathis said Commonwealth Ports Authority and Mobil Oil officials have already tapped services of an independent consultant to sample the wells once a week.

These water sample reports are to be submitted to the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality and to the US Environmental Protection Agency for six months until movement patterns are established, Ms. Mathis explained.

The utility company earlier received an official notice from the ports authority disclosing that a minimum of 6,000 gallons of jet fuel had leaked from the airport containers into the ground.

There are about seven water wells from the immediate area of the jet fuel spill and officials immediately collected water samples from the well fields.

Initial results revealed that these well fields did not contain any evidence of jet fuel but officials are still in the process of determining how the fuel moves underground and whether it could contaminate the water wells.

“When it rains, the water wells provide substantial water for customer in Southern Saipan, the CPA jet fuel might continue to seep further into the groundwater tables,” Ms. Mathis said.

She said DEQ required the utility company to monitor five unregulated contaminants including See-butylbenzene, Trimethlybenzene and others while EPA is contemplating on setting a limit on these contaminants.

Unless results of the independent Montgomery Watson Laboratories proved that six-week rigid water sampling inspection yielded negative of fuel contamination, residents were advised not to ingest part of the water from these well fields.

Officials of DEQ earlier ordered CPA and Mobil Oil to do weekly sampling and map out cleanup measures to rid the area of spillage should investigation proved any liabilities on their part.

In another development, residents of four areas in Southern Saipan will be placed on a water rationing due to sudden mechanical breakdown of the Kanat Tabla water pump.

Replacement parts for the Kanat Tabla water pump are disclosed to be on order from the US mainland. Until replacement parts arrive, the water supply for Fina Sisu will be diverted to assist customers in Kanat Tabla.

In addition, the areas of Chalan Kanoa, Susupe, San Jose, and As Perdido are receiving low water pressure due to low rainfall and reservoir levels.

The utility company is collecting extra supply to refill the reservoir which will be distributed the next day. Residents will have five hours of strong high-pressurized water on a daily basis.

Residents of Upper Kanat Tabla will receive water at 8:30am through 2:30pm; Fina Sisu’s five-hour schedule will be between 2:30pm through 8:00am; Chalan Kanoa, Susupe, San Jose and As Perdido residents will receive five hours of strong pressurized water between 4:00am to 9:00am.