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‘Boil water’ notice out
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Posted on Nov 19 2004
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Division of Environmental Quality yesterday cautioned the public to boil water supplied by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. on Saipan, saying that the utility firm’s water system is contaminated by bacteria.
The EPA said the water system has been contaminated with E. coli bacteria, which, when ingested, could cause gastrointestinal diseases.
The CUC actually discovered the contamination about three weeks ago, but the matter was only reported to the DEQ only last week.
DEQ director John I. Castro Jr. said that, while his agency has been working with the CUC to address the problem, it could issue a citation against the utility firm “if warranted.”
The main concern right now, Castro said, is to address the problem. The DEQ has directed the CUC to issue a “boil water” public notice daily for at least two consecutive weeks, until the problem is addressed.
“We believe that the water system is contaminated,” said EPA Pacific Islands Office manager John McCarroll.
McCarroll said the problem caused alarm, compounded by inspection findings that CUC’s water system lacked chlorination and has leaks that makes it prone to exposure to other contaminants.
EPA’s Barry Pollock said the CUC should only lift the “boil water” notice when the bacteriological problem is addressed. He said the CUC should chlorinate the water sufficiently to kill the bacteria.
The CUC needs to maintain its water system bacteria-free for two consecutive weeks so that the DEQ would allow it to lift the “boil water” notice.
Pollock said that, while most consumers on-island consume bottled water, they still use CUC water to brush their teeth, take a shower and wash food—making the water contamination a significant health concern.
As of yesterday, however, he said there has been no report yet of people suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses due to the contaminated water.
Pollock also said he would visit Rota to inspect the island’s water system due to coliform bacteria contamination.
CUC’s water system on Tinian, meanwhile, is fully compliant with the required bacteriological standard, he added.
