(CUC) — Construction began Monday on a new waterline project in San Vicente. Two miles of distribution pipes are being installed now through the end of June replacing cracking watermains that contain asbestos.
The new watermain will serve more than 64 lots in San Vicente, with a total of 75 new water meters being installed.
“With older cement pipes being replaced, we will not have so many water leaks. As customers pay by a smart meter, they also conserve water. This means that the people in San Vicente will soon enjoy longer water hours due to our efforts to fix leaking pipes and conserve water,” said Mariano Iglecias, acting manager of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s water division
CUC officials joined Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday.
Deleon Guerrero authored the law that provided half of the required funding, $250,000, with the other $250,000 being funded through federal capital improvement project funds.
“It’s taken five years of hard work, planning, and project designs to get to today’s groundbreaking and construction, and I’m just happy to get it going,” the lawmaker said.
After design costs, the construction totals $394,888.88. The contractor, GPPC Inc., advises that it will have two shifts working through June and traffic delays are possible in front of the San Vicente church.
In addition to the San Vicente waterline replacement project, CUC is also working on replacing old cement-asbestos lines in Kanat Tabla.
Saipan has seven sections of water distribution lines that still contain asbestos. However, the substance cannot be transmitted in water.
Asbestos is known to be an airborne – dust — hazard that occurs when the cement is broken up or disposed.
All of the remaining cement-asbestos lines are slated for replacement as federal and local funds allow.