CUC well isolation project 95 pct. done

More areas on Saipan will soon have 24-hour water supply, with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s well isolation project now 95 percent complete and final completion scheduled in September this year.

The project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, involves reconnecting pipelines and diverting water from CUC’s direct feed wells in the Koblerville area to the Isley Tank site.

The project eliminates direct feed wells, or wells that pump water directly into the distribution system, and is expected to provide improved services.

According to CUC deputy director Alan Fletcher, CUC has about 38 wells that feed directly into the system.

“These wells waste energy unnecessarily, have frequent motor/pump replacements, and most importantly, have varying water quality due to a lack of circulation in the system. By diverting the flow from these wells into water storage tanks, there will be longer contact-time for disinfection which will help to improve water quality,” he explained.

To date, CUC has completed 95 percent of the well isolation project and has met the 20 percent green reserve component of the almost $2 million ARRA and Environmental Protection Agency grant requirement, Fletcher said.

Once complete, CUC expects to see increased motor and pump efficiency which will reduce electrical use and increase the water supply. Also, nine separate chlorination stations will be eliminated, further reducing the cost of operations and maintenance over time.

Fletcher said this project will directly benefit current and future residents of Kagman, Koblerville, San Antonio, As Lito, Dandan, Chalan Piao, Chalan Kanoa, and Susupe, who will see increased water hours and increased water pressure.

The well isolation project also involves the construction of a new transmission line to connect three new wells that the CNMI Water Task Force drilled in Kagman, construction of control panel enclosures, installation of perimeter security fencing and exterior labs, installation of pumps, construction of properly designed and wellheads, and connecting wells into the CUC water grid.

CUC’s water division will also be performing water system construction in Koblerville, San Antonio, Afetna, and As Perdido that will result in water fluctuation in these areas until June 30.