‘PSS Lake’ finally gets execs’ attention

Officers from the Department of Public Works and Division of Wildlife were at the Public School System offices in Lower Base as early as 8am yesterday morning to look at the so-called “PSS Lake” and assess ways of resolving the problem.

Acting Commissioner of Education David M. Borja told Saipan Tribune yesterday that Pupil Transportation Office bus operation officers went to his office on Capitol Hill at 9am yesterday and reported that some officials from the DPW and DFW were at their Lower Base offices inspecting and analyzing the problem created by the flooding. He said even Workforce Investment Agency director Jesse Stein went down to the bus depot and Procurement and Supply Office to check.

Borja said his staff is gratified that officials from these departments have shown personal involvement in the problem.

“They are assessing the situation down there,” said Borja, adding that the officials were trying to find a remedy to correct the situation.

The stagnant water that has pooled in the backyard of PSS’ Lower Base compound has become such a constant frustration that site employees have dubbed it a lake.

The bus officers said earlier that the heavy rains only exacerbate the situation and the resulting stagnant water emanates a foul odor that could be smelled throughout the vicinity.

Borja said his staff was also surprised to find officers from DFW inspecting the place. PSS school bus supervisor Ramon Salas said tilapias have begun thriving in the stagnant water.

During heavy downpours, the water level rises and reaches even the interior of the PSS offices, he said. Worse, if it rains for three to four hours, the entire compound is usually swamped with foul-smelling floodwaters.

Borja said he is thankful for the attention being given to the problem. “We have not used the bus parking in full capacity [because of the flooding],” the acting commissioner said.

The bus officers said supplies in both offices have to be brought to a platform to keep them away from the water. This is one of the reasons why cabinets and other office furniture have degraded fast due to rust caused by the water runoff into the office. “The water most of the time reaches up to four inches, with mud,” Salas said.

It has been more than two years since “PSS Lake” started bothering them. Salas said as far as he could recall, the problem started when the Department of Public Works Solid Waste Management Division Transfer Station was constructed next to the PSS buildings.

The staff members, Salas said, have tried solving the problem on their own, even borrowing pumps and raking off the water brought by the recent rains. “The water just comes back again and again. The water comes from the hill all the way down to our office,” Salas said.

Salas said PSS acting commissioner of education David M. Borja had written to DPW Secretary Juan S. Reyes, Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider and Division of Environmental Quality director John I. Castro in September about the problem.