By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Waterworks Authority is a little disappointed by the lackadaisical public participation in the hearings being conducted on the utility’s master plan.
According to GWA public information officer Heidi Ballendorf, the public hearings on the agency’s master plan have not been very well-attended.
GWA has scheduled three public hearings this month on its water resources master plan. The first of the meetings was recently held at the Sinajana mayor’s office.
Ballendorf said it is important for the public to attend the hearings because the master plan identifies work that is needed over the next 20 to 25 years at a cost of nearly $900 million to repair, restore, and refurbish the island’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
The plan, which will be used by GWA as a road map for making immediate and long-term infrastructure improvements, is also one of the action items required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under a stipulated agreement with GWA.
"These are very important meetings as it the final input for the water plans for Guam for the next 20 years. We want the public and key government officials to be there, and have a chance to have their say," Ballendorf said.
Another public hearing is set for today at the Dededo mayor’s office, with the next one scheduled for Jan. 17 at the Yona mayor’s office.