Five firms cited for water regs violations

The Division of Environmental Quality issued notices last week to five companies for violating various water regulations, including the total coliform rule, according to DEQ spokeswoman Reina Camacho.

The companies cited were Rota Crystal Water, US CNMI Barracks, Neo Fashion Inc., Sun Palace Hotel, and Kingfisher Golf Links.

Rota Crystal Water, she said, had two out of five samples that returned positive with coliform; the US CNMI Barracks had two of six samples that were positive, each of which exceeded the maximum contaminant level for total coliform bacteria.

Camacho said total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful. Coliforms are bacteria, which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present. When coliforms are found in more samples than allowed, it is an indication of potential problems, she said.

“These water systems are required to increase the number of samples they collect in the following month,” she said.

Neo Fashion Inc. and Sun Palace Hotel were cited for having failed to submit the required number of total coliform bacteria samples for the month of July. Camacho said each of these public water system companies was instructed to collect the correct number of samples.

Kingfisher Golf Links was issued an “acute” notice of violation. Camacho said an “acute” violation means samples tested were positive for e-coli or nitrate exceeding the maximum contaminant level.

If these companies fail to meet the requirements stated in their respective notices of violation, they would be placed on the significant noncompliance list or an administrative order would be issued to them as soon as possible, Camacho said.

All public water systems are required to be analyzed for bacteriological contamination monthly.

The CNMI Safe Drinking Water Regulations state that no more than one positive total coliform bacteria sample should be detected for the companies that are collecting less than 40 samples per month and this includes bottled water companies, garment factories/barracks, and others, or no more than 5 percent for systems collecting more than 40 samples per month like the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Camacho said the Division of Environmental Quality would proceed with enforcement and regulatory actions in order to best serve the public in protecting public health and the environment. For more information about water quality standards, contact Joe M. Kaipat at the DEQ office with tel. no. 664-8500.