Apatang hopes water booster pump project completed soon

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang gamely answers questions by Korean students that visited his office last Friday. The students are on Saipan as part of Costa World’s annual Wow Camp. (Jon Perez)

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang is hoping that the planned construction of a water booster pump in As Falape would be completed soon to ease the burden to all the families living in that area.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. said the water reservoir servicing As Falape is lower than the homes of the families living in the area. The said agency though lacks the money needed to fund the project.

The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, however, came to the rescue and appropriated $256,241 as part of the government’s efforts to find permanent solutions on the island’s water problem.

Apatang is thankful of the SNILD’s gesture. “We appreciate what they have done to fund the water booster pump project for the As Falape area,” Apatang told Saipan Tribune after hosting a group of Korean students last Friday.

“There are some families there that are without water for a long time and they have been buying water. So I met with CUC last week, and gave them a copy of the appropriation made by SNILD. So hopefully they could start looking into that,” he added.

Apatang said CUC executive director Gary Camacho assured him that they would start working on the plans and other things needed to begin the project.

“[Camacho] said they would start working on that so we could finally take care of the situation. They have to do plans and survey those areas,” added Apatang.

He said that As Mahetog and parts of Chalan Kanoa are also experiencing water problems aside from As Falipe. “I know there used to be a pipe there in As Falipe but somebody removed the booster pump in the area.”

“But not only in As Falipe, there are some other areas like in As Mahetong where I think the water pressure is so low and it won’t go up to the hill. Some people in CK have also been calling for assistance.”

Apatang said they are trying to ask the Rotary Club of Saipan for some help. “What we’re trying to do is to do some survey where are the areas that needed help and hopefully we can get a truck to help the people in the areas without water.”

“We’re working with the Rotary Club of Saipan to see if they could help out in securing a water truck. So we can start delivering to the people,” added Apatang.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office has been delivering water to people who have no access to one of the basic needs in daily living.