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CHCC upgrades water system
This newly installed reverse osmosis water filtration system is able to produce 36,000 gallons of water per day, which is double the amount the previous system produced for the Commonwealth Health Center. The Commonwealth Health Care Corp. reported that the installation of the new system was completed earlier this month. (MARC A. VENUS)
The Commonwealth Health Care Corp. has made upgrades to the Saipan hospital’s reverse osmosis water filtration system, allowing the Commonwealth Health Center to double the amount of water it produces daily.
Warren Villagomez, director of the CHCC Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program, said this upgrade also allows CHCC to manage its utility cost and provide patients with safer water.
The reverse osmosis system is used to purify water from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. water wells, making it potable, or safe to consume.
This new system is able to produce 36,000 gallons of water per day, double the amount of the old system while reducing the amount of water that is wasted, which had been an issue with the former reverse osmosis system.
“This new R.O. system is way more efficient and is safer for use, as the former system is more than 30 years old,” Villagomez said.
This new system is compact and therefore frees up space for other hospital systems.
Another benefit that this upgrade creates is an opportunity to incur less utility charges, as the system has an automatic shutdown sequence once it has created an enough amount of water. “This upgrade helps the hospital save money on power fees,” he said.
Villagomez said that CHCC ordered the equipment last February, received the upgraded equipment last August, and began to install the new system shortly after. The equipment was procured in coordination with the Governor’s Office and totaled around $220,000 using Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s Community Chest Fund.
He said that they were able to complete the installation of the new system earlier this month, and maintenance and other staff have undergone training with the new system in order to keep the system running safely and efficiently.
Villagomez said that CHCC is currently working on projects for CHC’s reservoirs and its storage facility.
