SIX Saipan areas continue to use water pipes made of asbestos cement, posing high risk of contamination due to possible infiltration when there is no pressure in the water system.
Most of the leaks in the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s water system also involve asbestos cement pipes that serve thousands of water customers.
These areas are Chinatown/Sugar King, Gualo Rai, Afetnas, San Vicente, San Antonio and Kannat Tabla.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said some people who drink water containing asbestos in excess of 7 millions of fibers per liter in many years may have an increased risk of developing benign intestinal polyps.
CUC spokeswoman Pamela Mathis said the corporation is applying for federal grants in order to replace the water pipes.
Mathis said CUC crews could also be exposed to a health hazard environment—through the inhalation of asbestos fibers, for example—when cutting asbestos cement pipes for repairs.
“All existing asbestos cement pipes must be replaced. We would want to replace these pipes with PVC which doesn’t rust and is not so breakable. PVC is much safer than asbestos cement,” said Mathis.
This project, however, would cost CUC and the federal government $2.842 million.
The replacement of existing asbestos cement pipe in Chinatown/Sugar King and Gualo Rai is projected to cost $600,000 and $375,000.
The Afetnas and San Vicente water pipeline replacement projects would cost $342,000 and $500,000.
The San Antonio and the Kannat Tabla projects are estimated to cost $650,000 and $375,000.
Mathis admitted that thousands of individuals are served by these pipes.
CUC and the Division of Environmental Quality are working together to test Saipan water for asbestos, she added.
In 1995, when the government declared a water state of emergency, CUC replaced all main water lines and many of the laterals with PVC.
However, some areas are still using asbestos cement water pipes.
The replacement of existing asbestos cement pipes is included in CUC’s proposed projects for fiscal year 2001.
