10 wastewater connection systems now open

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. said yesterday that it recently completed 10 infrastructure collection pipeline projects, making available cheaper and environmentally cleaner services to Saipan homeowners and businesses.

All businesses and homeowners in these 10 areas can now hook up services to CUC and immediately start saving money by paying small monthly utility fees instead of costly “honey wagon” septic tank disposal charges.

The 10 Saipan areas that are now available for connection are: China Town, Upper Gualo Rai, Gualo Rai to San Jose-Middle Road (Chalan Pale Arnold), San Jose to Garapan-Beach Road, Japanese Jail Historic Site area in Garapan, Lower Navy Hill, Quartermaster Road, Saipan Air Port road areas (Chalan Tun Herman Pan), As Lito road areas (Chalan MSGR. Martinez), and Koblerville Homestead.

“Saipan’s public health improves today and everyday that a homeowner connects wastewater service to CUC,” the utility firm said in a statement. “CUC wants this island to stay beautiful and to protect the soil and most important, the fresh groundwater.”

As CUC improves its functions, it encourages people to report any business, household, or waste run-off to the Division of Environmental Quality and to CUC.

During downpours, waste rushes downhill to the beaches, and it collects soil, animal waste, and trash along the way. Other rain seeps underground to freshwater resources, and if the area is contaminated, vital aquifers are harmed.

“This is why we conquered typically slow construction projects as quickly as possible, even delays caused by bad weather, historic site discoveries, and we pushed through slow procurement of equipment and supplies to help our environment and our homeowners,” explained Wastewater manager Bernard Lotoc.

He said that customers who pay for septic removal probably don’t know that their waste is also brought to CUC and mixed with regular wastewater treatment in the cleaning process.

“The ‘honey wagon’ firm vacuums waste from septic tanks, and then the wagon truck is driven to one CUC’s two sewer treatment plants. CUC has to charge those firms for this disposal, so, in essence, the customer naturally pays twice for septic removal,” Lotoc explained. CUC is cheaper, he said, and the community is ensured that the environment is protected from septic tank overflows.

As CUC improves infrastructure by installing new collection pipelines and a series of pump stations to push the waste faster into the treatment plants, every homeowner is supposed to hook up their service to CUC within six months. This includes people who currently have a septic tank. Even if customers only recently built or installed a septic system, connection to public utilities is mandatory, according to government regulations.

“We try to make it as painless as possible, customer friendly; and above all, CUC strives to make all sewer systems environmentally clean and safe. We realize that it might be difficult for customers to have contractors bury wastewater pipes that connect to from their home to the collection system at the property rights-of-way. We are always available to help,” he said.

Call the CUC Wastewater Division personnel for an appointment at 664-6178 / 79.