By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Waterworks Authority will reimburse customers who were forced to install water shutoff valves between April 2 and April 16.
The decision came after Sen. Adolpho Palacios, D-Ordot/Chalan Pago, filed Bill 99, which seeks to compel GWA to refund customers who complied with the requirement to install water shutoff valves that was eventually recalled.
Earlier, several customers rushed to have shutoff valves installed following GWA’s threat to disconnect water services to households that didn’t have the required water control system.
Protests from most customers, however, prompted GWA to recall the requirement and withdraw the disconnection threat.
However, Palacios noted that a number of GWA customers have incurred expenses as a result of the “faulty requirement.”
To resolve the matter, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities decided Tuesday night to have GWA make the reimbursements.
Bill 99 requires that the residences be “compensated for their losses and sufferings by mutual arrangement” between the water agency and the customer.
According to Heidi Ballendorf, GWA public information officer, the reimbursements will most likely come in the form of credits given to the affected customers.