CUC reports water quality violations

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. cited budget problems and inadequate operational improvements in the Water Division as reasons for the various water quality violations it committed last year.

In its regular consumer confidence report, CUC said it was not able to complete all test requirements in 2003 due to budgetary and staffing constraints, as well as shipping problems.

In some cases, tests were conducted but the results exceeded the maximum contaminant levels allowed by the Division of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, CUC added.

Among the violations reported were low chlorine levels and presence of too much fecal coliform or E. coli bacteria—all as a result of chlorinator malfunction.

For instance, in Dec. 2003, results of a test done in As Matuis and San Roque showed that the water had a total coliform level of 14 percent—almost triple the allowed 5 percent.

The CUC report also showed that three regions, covering at least 14 villages on island, experienced high coliform levels in their water for five months last year.

But CUC maintained that it has taken actions to correct these violations.

“[CUC] incurred violations in 2003 when power outages, lack of maintenance and personnel resulted in water with low chlorine levels. As detected, more chlorine was added to the pumping stations; the public does not need to use alternate water now. In fact, CUC now operates 45 chlorinating stations,” the agency said.

The presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates that water may be contaminated with organisms that cause illness. Disease symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headaches and fatigue, CUC said.

“These symptoms, however, are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water, but also may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking water,” it added.

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has awarded CUC a total of $3.2 million in three grants for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in the CNMI.

The grants came on the heels of CUC’s report on its own violations regarding water quality on the islands.

“The funding will be put to good use by CUC to improve drinking water systems and ensure proper wastewater disposal,” said John McCarroll, manager of the EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Pacific Islands Office. “Providing a reliable supply of drinking water to the CNMI residents is critical. Additionally, it is important to protect public health, the environment and ocean resources of the CNMI.”

An additional $1.1 million was added to an existing EPA grant, for a total of $2.1 million, for the design and construction of an ocean outfall for the Agingan wastewater plant. The project, also funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and CUC, will cost about $6.9 million.

McCarroll said the new outfall would discharge treated effluent further offshore and at a greater depth, and ultimately allow CUC to comply with its EPA discharge permit.

CUC is currently under an administrative order by the EPA.

The EPA is also funding a $1.55 million project for the rehabilitation and extension of the Kanat Tabla waterline and the construction and rehabilitation of nearby water tanks. Officials will construct a new one-million-gallon drinking water storage tank; rehabilitate an existing one-million-gallon water tank; and replace water supply lines in the area. The improvements will provide increased water hours and water pressure to customers in the area.

The EPA is providing $550,000 for rehabilitation of the drinking water sand filtration system at the airport, which will provide safer drinking water for CUC’s customers. The current sand filter system requires a complete overhaul including upgrades and replacement of water pumps and pump control systems to meet all drinking water standards.

All three projects are currently in the design phase, and construction should begin in 2005.