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Task force gets access to Saipan’s water system
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Posted on Dec 22 2004
The CNMI Water Task Force has adopted a plan of action after receiving the go-ahead from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to physically access Saipan’s water system infrastructure.
Task force chair Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said the major components of the group’s action plan are drilling of new wells and connecting them to the system, purchase and installation of water meters, well field isolation, well field optimization, leak detection, and water conservation.
In a Dec. 15 letter to CUC, Benavente also provided the board of directors a detailed list of WTF’s anticipated activities. These include construction and renovation work at the water system facilities, surveys of CUC water systems, elimination of old waterlines, verification of CUC billings, and elimination of unregistered water users, among other things.
“This list is not intended to be exclusive as other needs may arise as the projects go forward. It is intended to demonstrate to the board the kinds of activities that are contemplated by the Water Task Force,” Benavente told CUC chairman Francisco Q. Guerrero.
The Water Task Force recently amended its memorandum of understanding with CUC to authorize the task force to access the utility firm’s water system infrastructure.
“This amendment was a necessary step in the process of accomplishing the Water Task Force: to pressurize the system and make available 24-hour water to every consumer on Saipan,” Benavente said. “The day-to-day implementation of such access is left to the respective managers of the Water Task Force and CUC.” (Agnes E. Donato)
