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2005 CIP money goes to water, sewer projects
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Posted on Feb 25 2005
The nearly $13-million Capital Improvement Project funds this fiscal year will be used primarily for water and sewer projects in the Commonwealth.
In a notice of grant award, the U.S. Department of the Interior approved the use of some $7 million for water-related projects on Saipan.
The remaining funds would be used for construction of sewer facilities on Rota and Tinian, totaling $1.6 million each, as well as the closure of the Puerto Rico dumpsite, which receives $2.7 million.
Meantime, water projects that have been approved for funding this year include critical water distribution system ($298,000), improvements at springs ($345,000), additional pipeline ($201,500), water conservation and leak detection (960,000), surface water catchments ($2.9 million), optimization of existing wells ($1.2 million), a and test drilling program ($575,000).
This CIP grant is on top of another $1 million for water system improvements as authorized by the FY 2005 federal budget.
The water projects will be under the joint supervision of the CNMI Water Task Force and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
The task force, which promises to provide 24-hour water supply on Saipan by end of the year, has began drilling a new well on Mt. Tapochao, which would boost the water supply in the commercial district in Garapan.
The task force said it dug 12 new wells in coordination with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Based on the plan, 100 new wells must be developed to ensure a more stable water supply on the island.
Once online, some existing low-producing wells would be shut down.
There are 144 existing wells on Saipan, but only 125 of these are considered operational.
