By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Commonwealth Utilities Corporation yesterday said the stench that businesses are complaining about in Garapan is not a sewer problem, but is caused by a “long-standing” drainage system.
CUC spokeswoman Pamela Mathis said the public may think the problem their responsibility.
She said the drainage is totally different from the sewer system that CUC is maintaining.
According to Mathis, the drainage system is where storm or rain water flows and CUC has nothing to do with it because it’s not a part of the agency’s job.
The sewer system, she said, processes wastewater.
On Saipan, she said, the system pumps wastewater all the time to the two water treatment plants.
Sewage from the northern part of the island is processed in Sadog Tasi, while that of the southern part is processed in Agigan.
Mathis said the ditches at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan are the one’s emitting the “disturbing odor,” probably due to trash dumped in the drainage water.
“The smell in Garapan is not coming from the sewer because sewer pumps wastewater away. It does not go to Garapan — it does not go to the beach. It’s goes to the treatment plants,” Mathis said, adding that the only sewer problem that can happen is an overflow.
Mathis said since the problem is in the Garapan tourism district, government agencies should work together to resolve the problem which, she added, is probably connected to the trash problem in the area.
Kinpachi Restaurant owner Mizako Kamata said she and other businesses in the area have been complaining about the stench because it has been driving away tourists who are their target customer.
Kamata, who also leads the Paseo de Marianas Promoters, said the stench worsens at high tide or when it rains.