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‘Improved water system is exposing old pipes’
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Posted on Oct 25 2008
The strong pressure brought about by the improved water system has caused the old pipes to leak, according to Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Antonio Muña.
“We solved one problem and then we have another,” Muña said.
He said the leaking pipes are a big challenge to CUC which has been trying to make sure there is enough supplies and people to address the issue.
Muña said it is his understanding that 65 percent of customers on Saipan are now getting water on a 24-hour basis.
He said the capacity of water reservoirs has been enhanced by the various improvements undertaken.
“We’re getting close to getting sufficient supply and sufficient pressurization to the system all over the island,” he said.
Muña said the strong water pressure, however, has exposed the fragility of the water distribution system such as the old and rusty pipes.
“We are finding a lot of these old pipes with the new increased pressurization are failing. We are getting more leaks out there,” he said. “Leaking is being exposed now more than before.”
To address the leak problem, Muña said they just get to them as soon as CUC receives reports of one.
“We just need to go out there and repair them,” he added.
