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CUC water supply gets dramatic improvements
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Posted on Jul 06 2008
The ongoing repair of leaks has resulted in dramatic improvements in the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s water supply in some areas on Saipan.
According to CUC’s July 2008 water quality report, the Chalan Kanoa-Susupe area that was previously receiving only two hours of water per day is now getting 24-hour water supply, thanks in large part to the prioritized repair of leaks.
CUC said the 24-hour water system is pressurized, improving water quality.
In 2006, the Division of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found a number of deficiencies in their sanitary survey of the Saipan public water system.
To correct the deficiencies, the utility agency’s water manager, Mariano Iglecias, methodically addressed each problem, the CUC report said.
CUC’s Water Division and the Water Task Force worked together to repair leaks in Chalan Kanoa and Susupe beginning July 2007.
The Water Division and the Water Task Force also implemented a well-optimization program to upgrade and rehabilitate the island’s water facilities that would correct the many deficiencies cited in the 2006 sanitary survey.
In addition, using an EPA grant, CUC constructed a new water storage tank in Kannat Tabla. The Water Task Force also built a new water storage tank in Upper Navy Hill and is also in the process of rehabilitating two other water storage tanks.
The water report cited that beginning September 2007, 69 wells have undergone complete rehabilitation.
Under the rehabilitation project, well motors and casings were replaced; concrete pads and small structures were built to protect the electrical panel boxes and chlorine cylinders; and security fences were erected around each well.
CUC’s report mentioned that EPA Region 9’s Barry Pollock was very impressed with the improvements in his visit last year to more than 20 water wells on Saipan.
Pollock reportedly observed that these major improvements to the water system on the island were accomplished in less than two years.
