Previous Story
Sewage overflows at TSD office anew
|
Posted on Dec 01 2004
Overflowing sewage flooded again a portion of the Department of Public Works’ Technical Services Division in Lower Base on Monday, prompting the temporary displacement of some employees.
Public Works Secretary Juan S. Reyes said the some of the employees had to be sent home, while the rest had to move to the front side of the TSD office. The office has a staff of over 20.
The problem, however, was rectified on Tuesday, he added.
“The CUC [Commonwealth Utilities Corp.] pump might be a problem,” the DPW secretary said.
Reyes said sewage backflowed from the drainage system at the rear portion of the TSD office. CUC personnel responded to the site to rectify the situation. He said the affected area was cleaned up and sanitized.
Sometime last week, the Bureau of Environmental Health inspected the site and found out that sewage backflowed to the restrooms and drainage system within the TSD. BEH considered the situation a “major backflow,” reporting the matter not only to the CUC but also to the Division of Environmental Quality.
Recently, the CNMI government identified additional funding to complete the relocation and upgrading of sewer pump stations in Tanapag to address perennial sewage overflows.
Public Law 14-31 allocated some $283,000 to complete the relocation of the T-1 pump station to the location of the T-2 pump station and to finish the upgrade of the T-2 pump station. The monies add up to the $374,766 earlier appropriated by PL 14-5 for the pump station projects.
The CUC’s wastewater division came up with the proposal to relocate the T-1 pump station as it is located near public facilities such as the Tanapag Social Hall, children’s playground, and nearby beaches.
