IT’S about time someone catch on to the illegal activity that GWA has been engaged in. Senator Jesse Lujan has held GWA accountable for its actions by calling attention to GWA’s unauthorized protocol. For quite some time, GWA has been shutting residents’ water supply completely off if a household does not have the recommended shut-off valve. It seems that GWA has seen fit to change laws or at the very least alter their meaning and intent.
As Senator Lujan pointed out, nowhere in the law does it specify that water service is to be terminated to residences that lack a shut-off valve. In fact, the language used in the law addressing the issue of shut-off valves in no way indicates that such highly punitive action should occur in such instances. The word “should” is used rather than “required.” This clearly signals a recommendation not an obligation and certainly not a reason for cutting off a family’s water! Furthermore, no consequence or action is stated in the law regarding adverse action to be taken against those who choose not to comply with the stated shut-off valve recommendation.
To make matters worse, GWA has turned off many people’s water without any advanced warning. Not only is such behavior on GWA’s part unprofessional, it is also hazardous. Terminating water service to designated households poses sanitation and public health problems. GWA is not above the law and has no right to do what they have done. Senator Lujan has also put forth a bill reconfirming that GWA needs to clear all policy changes with the legislature. This will hopefully prevent future incidents of this kind.
GWA needs not only to clean up its water but needs to clean up its act!

NESTOR GOGUE
Agat, Guam