This time, it’s water shortage

Dry faucets and lack of information on the cause of the water shortage the past few weeks is slowly testing the patience of Saipan residents.

Complaints about the water shortage come from different parts of the island, from San Roque and Tanapag, to San Vicente and the Garapan area, with residents grumbling about the deteriorating water supply.

Lorena Cerdena, a resident of San Roque, said that what used to be a three-hour water supply has gone down to 30 minutes, which does not even fill the water tank at her house.

Cerdena’s housekeeper, who asked not to be identified, said the water shortage on Saipan has been the worst she has seen in years.

She said that, as caretaker of the compound, she has resorted to buying gallons of water, costing $25 a week, just to fill up their tank. She also said there are times when the water supply would come only after two to three days.

The housekeeper also said that, despite the water shortage, their utility bill from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has gone up, instead of going down. Cerdena said the compound is paying $700 per month, up from $400 just months ago.

Another resident from Tanapag, who also asked not to be named, said the continuous water problem has affected the laundry shop where she is currently working.

She said the shop has to fill up their tank early in the morning but as early as 6:30am the water would already be out. She said they would have to wait another day for the water to flow.

She said it has been weeks now that the laundry shop has been posting a “no water, only dryer available” sign on their door and the situation is cutting into their revenue. The woman said her barracks, which is provided by the owner of the shop, is also affected by the same problem.

Robert Arroyo, who works for an engineering company, said that, by 6:30am, the water at his place in San Vicente would already be out, with his 500-gallon tank not completely filled up due to the short time of water availability. The three-hour water availability has now been shortened to two hours or less, he said. “This is worse now than before.”

Garapan has also not been spared by the water crisis. A caretaker of the Coco Building, known to many only as Mrs. Park, said she has been complaining about the water problem in her building.

The Chinese-Korean caretaker said everyday she has to buy 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water, which is costing her an average of $25 per day. She said she is now spending from $1,000 to $1,500 a month just for water.

Park said she is very angry with the situation. She said the water supply to her building comes only every other day.

“There would be days that, on Monday and Tuesday there’s no water, then Wednesday there will be water but Thursday, none again,” she said.

Park said a majority of the establishments in Garapan are also having a difficult time with getting water.

All those interviewed said they have not received any notice from CUC about the cause of the problem. They said they only read in the newspapers that CUC is currently having money problems and that might be connected to the worsening water situation on Saipan.

Saipan Tribune tried to get comments from CUC’s public information officer Pamela Mathis yesterday but she was not available.