CUC unveils new water well

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation brings into production tomorrow a new water well that will serve households and establishments in the Central Garapan district.

“CUC crews set an all time record of contemplating the entire drilling process in just five days,” said USGS hydrologist Robert Carruth in a media release.

The new water well, which is about 550 feet deep and located in Navy Hill, was drilled in response to a failing well that supplies the Calhoun Reservoir and all Garapan and Puerto Rico customers.

The failing well caused low water pressure for Garapan and Puerto Rico residents over the last week, according to the utility corporation.

CUC said a water outage is scheduled today as the new public facility builds up water reserves in the next 24 hours and connects the new water well to the water system.

The water outage is scheduled for Tuesday morning, during the regular time Garapan customers receive supply — from 6:00am to 9:00am. CUC personnel anticipate some water irregularities as the new well comes on line and pressurized.

CUC stressed the water outage will occur only today in areas between Middle Road and Beach Road starting from Garapan Church all the way to Puerto Rico. This will also include the hotel street and lower MIHA housing.

This developed as CUC announced the postponement of the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for a new water facility on Tinian, which was originally scheduled for March 8.

CUC said the opening ceremonies for a new Maui or cave-like water well on Tinian that has been under construction for several months, had to be postponed until April because several CNMI senators are meeting all week instead on Rota.

“We are thrilled that the leadership of Tinian works together to enhance the infrastructure needs on behalf of their citizens. The construction of this new water facility is just another example of putting the needs of the people first. While we had hoped to hold a ceremony this week, we’re pleased to reschedule it around the needs of the Legislature,” said Executive Director Timothy Villagomez.

Tinian utility officials will continue to make last minute designs and connections while rescheduling the ceremony.

In addition, the public utility is working with the Division of Environmental Quality to complete a battery of tests for mainland regulated and even the unregulated chemicals prior to putting the water well into production with other Tinian water supplies.