By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Waterworks Authority has purchased land in Dededo on which a test well was drilled over 10 years ago.
According to GWA land manager Joe Punzalan, the land was pump-tested and found to have good potable water after some drilling and investigation conducted by GWA.
“This is the first property GWA has purchased to develop water on land other than the former EarthTech project which GWA purchased last year,” Punzalan said.
The new groundwater source will be the latest addition to GWA’s inventory of 120 wells.
GWA has determined that the pumping ability coming from this new well will be enough to deliver water to approximately 1,700 homes on Guam.
“This will be a tremendous boost to our water delivery capability, especially with the impending increase of the population on Guam. Of course, we must still complete the well and pump station before it can be added to Guam’s water delivery capability, and we also will need to add transmission lines to get the well on line with our current system,” GWA general manager David Craddick said.
But with the proper funding, Craddick assured that GWA can get the new water well operational in two years.
Meantime, GWA is preparing for a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new and significantly improved Hagatna Treatment Facility.
The renovation of the treatment facility was initiated to comply with the Federal Clean Water Act and requirements set by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency.
Before the renovation, GWA said the facility was not providing any significant sewage treatment due to its deteriorated state.
With the completion of the renovation project, the Hagatna sewage treatment plant is expected to be fully functional and GWA expects a measurable improvement in the quality of the discharge into the ocean.