U.S. EPA report says four areas of Saipan contaminated by VOCs

The groundwater in four areas of Saipan namely, As Lito, San Antonio, Lower Base and Puerto Rico have been contaminated by volatile organic chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Results of testing conducted in May also showed that 18 water wells in Lower Base and Puerto Rico analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyl contamination yielded negative results.

“No PCBs or pesticides were detected in any of those samples,” DEQ said in a statement. However, Thallium, a metal that can occur naturally and used for pesticide, was found in several locations to exceed the DEQ drinking water standard.

The samples were collected by U.S. EPA and its contractors from 160 private water wells that serve public water systems which include facilities such as hotels, restaurants, garment factories and other businesses that provide water to their workers and customers for drinking, cooking, bathing, etc.

Likewise, samples were also collected from four Commonwealth Utilities Corp. wells in Marpi. Sources of VOC’s include chemicals used in solvents and other petroleum products.

“In the near future, officials of EPA and DEQ will meet to decide what steps should be taken to determine the sources of contamination found in this study,” said Ignacio Cabrera, DEQ Director.

The samples collected by U.S. EPA represent an overview of the groundwater quality at the time these were collected. All public water systems are required to collect one sample every quarter for four consecutive quarters.

Mr. Cabrera said the samples collected by EPA will count as one of those quarterly samples required by the regulation. The average of the four samples determine whether a water system complies with the drinking water regulations.

DEQ has emphasized the need to perform chemical monitoring on water systems because the agency has already found harmful chemicals in the limited amount of testing that has been performed on some parts of the island.

In one instance, contamination was found at a concentration greater than 60 times the CNMI drinking water standard. The health risks ranging from gastrointestinal disorders to diseases of the liver, circulatory system, reproductive system and cancer, are very real and can no longer be ignored, Mr. Cabrera said.

DEQ, which is responsible for implementing the CNMI’s Safe Water Drinking Water Program, has required private water well owners to conduct chemical monitoring on their water systems. Only those public water systems that provide water for human consumption to 25 or more people are covered by the regulation.

The agency would be analyzing in water the presence of some 84 organic and 15 inorganic chemicals as well as a number of radionuclides. Every water system that has its own well or surface water source will be monitored. (Lindablue F. Romero)