‘Water TF, CUC working out their differences’

Water Task Force chair Diego T. Benavente has assured Washington Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio that matters are being worked out between the task force and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to prevent rivalry and problems while dealing with Saipan water issues.

During Thursday’s Water Resource Assessment and Management report at the 23rd Pacific Islands Environment Conference at Dai Ichi Hotel, Benavente said the task force and the CUC are both still on the project and differences are being discussed.

The explanation came after Tenorio expressed concerns about the communication gap between the task force and CUC. The Washington resident representative also asked Benavente on what actions are being taken to minimize the friction and to allow a harmonious working relationship to prevail.

“We are trying to resolve a 30-year-old problem. I am aware of the friction and the lack of CUC’s cooperation with the task force since the beginning. We tried to call the water division to ask for support and we are still talking about it to accomplish our goal. I hope everyone would get on board with us. That’s all I can say, we are trying,” said Benavente.

CUC deputy executive director Bernard Villagomez said the friction arose when ego and politics came into play.

“We are doing our best and a lot of times, there are conflicts and I applaud the Lt. Governor for listening to us and for taking his role seriously,” said Villagomez.

He urged the task force to put aside its ego and to get the job done. “I also applaud the resident representative. We have a mission, let’s achieve it; we have to do it for the people we serve,” said Villagomez.

Also, during Thursday’s discussion, task force manager Don Smith disclosed that a contract should be out yesterday for the purchase of 4,000 smart meters and another contract for a leak detection technician.

The smart meters would be installed initially from Garapan to San Jose. He also said the task force has been eliminating unregistered water users.

Smith underscored the importance of installing meters to encourage water conservation among consumers. Among others, he outlined recommendations issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate efforts toward making critical changes to the water distribution system, regulating underground fuel storage tanks, conducting a rate study and establishing government ownership of groundwater resources, to name a few.