CUC water service expands to Chalan Kiya

CUC Engineering generator technician John Jetnil and Water/Wastewater engineer Robert Malate energize the Chalan Kiya well with a generator provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (CUC Public Information Officer Brad E. Ruszala)

The village of Chalan Kiya was the latest to receive pressurized water yesterday afternoon as the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. continues to expand limited water service to Saipan residents.

Water and Wastewater engineer Robert Malate and CUC Engineering generator technician John Jetnil energized a generator from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which allowed CUC to charge the lines in Chalan Kiya.

The limited water service in Chalan Kiya will initially be available for approximately two hours and will increase once Water personnel make their assessment of the system.

CUC will next proceed to pressurize the water lines north to Quartermaster Road in Chalan Laulau. As with the previous phases, water will initially be available for approximately two hours and up to four hours once Water personnel make their assessment of the system.

In advance of the line pressurization, customers are asked to check that all household water faucets and hose bibs are turned off as water begins to fill the distribution lines.

On Sunday, CUC charged the lines in three sections beginning with the village of Chalan Kanoa in the first phase, and the villages of Susupe, Oleai, and San Jose in the second phase. CUC proceeded with the third phase of the restoration Monday morning with the villages of San Antonio and Chalan Piao. Customers between San Antonio and Oleai can expect to receive two to three hours of water per day at times to be released by CUC.

Given the challenges to water production and distribution posed by Typhoon Soudelor, it is critical for the community to immediately notify CUC of any water leaks. To report water leaks, contact the CUC Customer Call Center by calling 664-4CUC (4282).

CUC continues to provide water to residents in the amount of 100 gallons per household per day at filling stations located in As Teo, Capital Hill, Kannat Tabla, Kagman, and Navy Hill from 10am to 5pm daily, while the restoration of essential services rendered inoperable by Typhoon Soudelor continue.

The filling stations in Kannat Tabla and Kagman will continue daily operations until the supply in each of the reservoirs is depleted. The Agag, Capital Hill, and Navy Hill reservoirs are filled by water flowing from well pumps and will remain open indefinitely, provided the pumping system is operational or until CUC achieves a more stable solution to Saipan’s water needs.

The water made available at the filling stations is strictly for non-commercial residential use. No water buffaloes will be filled.
As a precaution, all water provided by CUC will also need to be sanitized through the use of chlorine bleach or boiling before it can be used by the community.

For more information, visit the CUC website, www.cucgov.org, or contact CUC’s Customer CallCenter at 664-4CUC (664-4282). (CUC)