Airport sewerline now operational

The Saipan International Airport will now be serviced with a full sewerline system after the Commonwealth Ports Authority and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. completed the off-airport sewerline project that began almost eight years ago.

While the project hit snags due to funding problems not associated with the airport facilities and issues of ownership between CPA and CUC, the new sewerline system will provide the needed disposal of waste to the proper waste water treatment facility at Agingan Point.

The sewerline system provides waste disposal services to all tenants and companies on airport property and to over 1,000 local residents situated along the sewerline areas.

“The longstanding concern about the airport’s septic and leaching field contaminating the ground water at the airport no longer exist. The question as to when the hundreds of residents along the airport and As Lito roads will be hooked to a much needed sewerline system is now gone,” said John R. Sablan, CPA’s overall engineer. “This project accomplishes so much for Saipan by providing a long overdue waste disposal service to the airport and nearby residents, but also it now protects our environment.”

The project was first undertaken by the CPA in 1996 to provide a sewerline system for the Saipan International Airport. Issues have been raised by local and federal agencies regarding the threat of contaminating the ground water at the airport where nearly 70 percent of Saipan’s water aquifer is situated.

The project was 100 percent financed by tax-exempt bond proceeds from CPA. However, the FAA raised concerns over CPA financing the entire project when only 30 percent of the project is related to the airport while 70 percent will serve the residents along the roads. After much discussion with CUC, the CPA and CUC agreed to hold joint ownership of the project. The CPA paid for 30 percent of the cost while CUC was responsible for the remainder.

Because of FAA’s concern and issues over the percentage of ownership, the project dragged on for several years.

Other issues that contributed to delays in completing this project include construction disputes over complications with the lift stations and right-of-way issues with landowners. Fortunately, CPA and CUC, along with the contractor, Pacific Drilling Ltd., were so committed to see that this project is carried out to full completion.

The total project cost is $6,282,262.00, inclusive of the design and construction management services.

The project, in general consisted of installing a complete sewer system from the Saipan International Airport along Tun Herman Pan Road, downward to Shell Dan Dan Gas Station and all the way south along As Lito Road to Agingan Wastewater Treatment Plant.

It included the installation of pipes, valves, fittings, manholes, bar screens, valve boxes, lift stations and emergency backup generators.

Final inspections were performed on May 10, 2004 by both CPA and CUC, inclusive of the lift stations. It was then commissioned upon satisfactory performance of the project. The entire sewerline system will be officially transferred to CUC for operations and maintenance.

“We thank CUC for their commitment not only to CPA and the airport community but to all the residents in the area. Without such commitment, it would be extremely difficult to imagine the project making any progress. The contractor, PDL, also kept its promises and hung in there with us ‘til the end,” said Sablan.

In addition to the sewer system, CPA constructed an aircraft waste disposal system on airport premises to provide on site disposal of aircraft waste instead of using the public sewer manholes along the main roads.

The aircraft waste disposal facility is a building on airport premises and is hooked up to the newly completed sewerline system. It consisted of constructing a building for specially designed aircraft disposal system and asphalt paving of an access road leading to the building. This project was fully funded by CPA for approximately $230,000. CPA performed the final testing and training sessions on May 11, 2004 to airport tenants and airline personnel who will be involved in the operations of this new facility.

With the completion of these two projects and the tremendous value and safeguard it provides to the environment, CPA and CUC expressed themselves “extremely proud” of the final outcome of the projects. Both agencies promised to continue to strive for more improvements to the overall infrastructure of the CNMI.