Palacios, Apatang lead groundbreaking for $2.1M CUC GAC Filtration System Project

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board chair Janice A. Tenorio led the groundbreaking ceremony for the $2.1-million Isley Field and Obyan Wells Granulated Activated Carbon Filtration System Construction Project last Friday.

The GAC Filtration System treats and removes “forever chemicals” called perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic Acid, PFOA, which are human-made substances that are not naturally found in the environment. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally. PFOS have been in existence since the early ’50s and were used in firefighting foam.

CUC, in consultation with Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have come to the conclusion that GAC Filter Units are the most effective treatment system that is best suited for the islands for removing contaminants.

In his remarks, Palacios underscored the need to have this project because PFOS is serious contaminant to CUC’s water lines that provide water to close to 70% of the community.

“So I want to commend CUC for pursuing this project,” said the governor during the ceremony held at the Japan Airlines Lane in Isley Field.

Palacios said acting CUC chief engineer Larry Manacop fully explained the GAC Project during several meetings and briefings with the administration.

“I’m happy to join you all today because this is the project that seriously needs to get done to address the potential dangers of our water systems,” he said.

Palacios commended Manacop for pursuing this project and thanked the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs for funding it.

“And I hope that at least we can begin to filter one of the most, if not the most, valuable resource of any community and that’s the water resource,” Palacios said.

CUC deputy executive director for Water and Wastewater Kevin Watson said PFOS contamination is not only an issue here in the CNMI, but nationwide and worldwide.

He said PFOS would cause cancer and other illnesses over a long time.

“So we are proud that CUC and our supporting agencies are doing something about it,” Watson said.

CUC board chair Janice A. Tenorio said they appreciate the partnership with the federal and local governments for making the groundbreaking possible.

“Water is critical and important for each and every one of us,” Tenorio said.

Travis Spaeth, who is the chief engineer/safe drinking water manager for BECQ, commended CUC on finally breaking ground on the project. Spaeth said CUC had to fight very hard to find funding and had to overcome multiple permitting issues to get this project actually to the stage after several years.

“So I commend the engineers, the operators, [and] lab staff at CUC for all the hard work they put in,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration put in $1.72 million for this project, while the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs added $431,604, for a total of $2.15 million, Manacop said.

He said the GAC equipment, along with the 80 tons of Garbon Media, costs $1.16 million and for the construction contract, it’s $540,800 to get it installed.

The contractor is Paragon Corp., which does business as CorePlus Construction headed by Noeh Cruz and Ruel Villacrusis.. CUC’s Dennis Formalejo is the project manager, assisted by junior engineer Mark Liban.

Manacop said the completion date is June 6, 2024.

Elevated concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were first discovered in some of Isley Field wells and Obyan wells in 2015, as part of regular monitoring of water groundwater quality.

In May 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a nationwide primary drinking water regulation to establish legally enforceable levels for PFOS and PFOA.

Manacop said the maximum health advisory limit is 70 parts per trillion for combined concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water to provide a margin of protection against its adverse health effects.

As a result of these regulations, CUC had to shut down a total of six Isley Field wells that feed the As Terlaje Tank Service Area and the Kannat Tabla Tank Service Areas and three Obyan wells that feed the Isley Tank Service Area.

The project is composed of the installation of four GAC filter units at Isley Booster 1. These units will be connected to an existing transmission line that connects 19 wells.

A flow of about 700-800 gallons per minute will go through each of the filter units for removal of PFOA/PFOS contamination.

The treated water will then flow to the As Terlaje Tank. An existing booster pump connected to the As Terlaje Tank pumps water to the Kannat Tabla Tank.

Acting CUC executive director Betty Terlaje thanked the CUC management team of operators, engineers and administrative staff, who dedicated their time and expertise to bring this project online. She also thanked the EDA and DOI for funding this project and making it possible.

“We stand united in our mission to provide clean, reliable and sustainable water resources to the people of the Commonwealth,” she said.

Terlaje sad this project would not only enhance public health and well-being but will also contribute overall economic development of the islands.