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EPA lauds CNMI for increasing Saipan’s water supply
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Posted on Nov 20 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lauded the CNMI’s Water Task Force for increasing Saipan’s water supply by about 2 million gallons daily.
Saipan is the only municipality across the nation that does not have 24-hour potable water daily.
With the task force’s efforts, however, Saipan’s water supply has increased by 25 percent to approximately 10 million gallons daily, according to EPA Pacific Island’s Office manager John McCarroll.
McCarroll noted the task force’s efforts to drill new water wells, which directly increase water supply.
He also lauded the task force’s implementation of water metering, which indirectly contributes to the water supply by reducing water wastage due to leaks and lack of conservation. The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. had earlier estimated water loss due to leaks at 3 million gallons daily.
“They [task force members] have accomplished a lot. In the CNMI, there are so many challenges that we face. Saipan is the only municipality in the United States that does not have 24-hour water,” McCarroll said.
A study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had estimated the cost of constructing water infrastructure, which will completely address Saipan’s water problem, at over $100 million.
But McCarroll said the task force has been able to alleviate the situation by increasing Saipan’s water supply. He said that some villages that used to get a 30-minute supply of water daily could now get 8-10 hours of water supply per day.
