Feds’ assistance sought for local water problems

Newly-installed US Interior Secretary Gale Norton has been urged to help address water-related problems faced by the Commonwealth, in light of the absence of adequate potable water sources in the CNMI.

“The present quality of the water being supplied to every single household on Saipan for human consumption is grossly below the level of the national standards,” said former Covenant negotiator and lieutenant governor Pete A. Tenorio.

In a letter to the new DOI secretary, Mr. Tenorio said not a single water source developed on Saipan is clean and safe enough for human consumption, adding that at least 90 percent of CNMI residents are forced to buy bottled water or collect rainwater through a roof-catchment facility.

He also noted that water supply on the islands is “so contaminated” that any form of treatment will be prohibitively costly, especially treatment of sources that are contaminated with petroleum residue, PCB, among others.

“Our drinking water is definitely not fit for human consumption. Our government, perhaps unknowingly, has been and continues to be in violation of the National Drinking Water Quality Standards, as well as our local Drinking Water Standards,” he said.

Mr. Tenorio, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Commonwealth through an agreement with the Untied States, stressed water service and quality were much better during the tenure of the US government under the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administration.

He told Ms. Norton that DOI’s assistance is direly needed in improving water quality and overall publuc water system infrastructure in the CNMI.

“Our financial resource obtained from Covenant-sourced funds, inclusive of federal programs entitlement via EPA or other agencies, are just not sufficient to put in place a water system that can adequately and efficiently produce potable water,” he said.

One important area that will directly and immediately be enhanced with the improvement of CNMI’s water systems infrastructure is the establishment of a viable and long-term economic activity.

Mr. Tenorio said this will guarantee revenue for the Commonwealth government, noting that the closure of some local businesses were, directly and indirectly, caused by water infrastructure-related problems.