(CUC) — According to the National Weather Service, typhoon Kong-Rey produced only a few inches of rain over Saipan and Tinian, leaving the Northern Marianas back in a state of drought.
Drier than normal conditions are expected to dominate the region for the next several months with Saipan receiving as little as 50 percent of its normal rainfall.
The National Weather Service Web site states, “It is anticipated that in general any periods of rain will be less frequent than normal, lighter than normal, and shorter than normal in duration.”
The lack of rainfall has a drastic, almost immediate effect on the Northern Marianas because the source of water is from groundwater wells — water that seeps into the ground during rainfall.
While portions of Saipan have adequate groundwater — mainly the southern villages and Kagman, several other villages are already experiencing water shortages — Garapan, Puerto Rico, China Town, Navy Hill, San Jose, As Matuis, Capitol Hill/Wireless Ridge, I Denni and Papago (Agag).
Typhoon Kong-Rey not only resulted in little rainfall, even worse, it reaped havoc on the water system in central and western Saipan where numerous water pumps were damaged during the storm.
With pumps burning out, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. cannot pump the rainwater out of the ground and into the homes.
At least five pumps or groundwater wells are currently inoperative.
This means that there is less water pressure and a big decrease in the number of hours that water is now released to Garapan, Navy Hill, China Town, and Puerto Rico, Capitol Hill/Wireless Ridge, I Denni and Papago (Agag).
If residents normally receive water for three hours a day, the time is now reduced to only one hour a day for these villages.
While the utility anticipates purchasing new equipment and completing typhoon-repairs within the next week, the water situation will not improve that much with the minimal rainfall forecast.
Other villages will soon have decreased water as the drought and dry season combine and produce less rain.
Residents are encouraged to practice strict water conservation and to teach children and household workers to save water.
Rainwater catchment systems/water tanks should be cleaned and float valves installed or replaced to ensure that water does not overflow from any tanks.
All water leaks (sink faucets, showers, hoses) must be fixed to save water and money.