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No results yet on Tinian ground water study for military’s use
The results are not yet in on the U.S. military study of Tinian groundwater wells.
According to Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality administrator Frank Rabauliman and Safe Drinking Water manager Jose Kaipat, the Marine Corps Forces Pacific, which led the water study, have not yet shared their results as of yesterday.
MARFORPAC is looking at alternatives for water and wastewater capabilities to accommodate military presence on Tinian.
Many of these wells are believed to be uncapped and leftover from World War II.
BECQ would prefer, if possible, that these wells be rehabilitated for military use, versus the drilling of new ones on Tinian.
However, Rabauliman indicated yesterday that drilling these wells might be a possibility.
He said ideally, the military would hook up to the water distribution line on Tinian. “But I realize that the closest water line may be some distance from where they are proposing their activities,” he added.
“We wanted the military to see if they could update that information [on existing wells],” he said. “Whether these are rehabilitable or not.”
Last month, Saipan Tribune learned that the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality monitored the inspection of three of these rehabilitated wells south of the Westfield airport. The study was contracted to AECOM, who then subcontracted another company to do the study. The bureau had requested that these sample results be shared.
