ASSISTANT Attorney General Hunter Hunt informed the federal court that many undocumented water connections have been found by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
In a 10-page status report, CUC’s legal counsel said: “Staff have been actively responding to leaks to limit the amount of water loss. Many undocumented connections have been found and capped when they are discovered. These were found through direct research and investigation, during the Garapan sewer improvement project, and during the Beach Road renewal construction project as excavations reveal unmetered connections to the waterlines. As these undocumented waterlines and service connections are discovered, they are cut and capped, and details are logged.”
The current state of water loss is at 60% or below, Hunt said.
“CUC’s consultant is currently conducting an AWWA Water Loss Audit, which provides a more comprehensive analysis of total water loss and non-revenue. It will let CUC know where to prioritize efforts to make the most impact on reducing non-revenue water,” Hunt said.
CUC is also proactively investigating flat rate customers and drawing up plans to install water meters to capture total consumption by all water users, he added.
“CUC has ordered a new water meter test bench, which has been shipped for delivery to Saipan,” he said.
“Engineering staff are currently drawing up plans to modify an existing office building to accommodate the new water meter test bench unit that will be able to test up to twenty meters at a time. In addition, a mobile water meter test bench mounted in a trailer was also purchased that is capable of testing 3” and larger water meters on location,” Hunt said.
“Once in place, CUC staff will be able to randomly test water meters throughout CUC’s distribution system to help determine total overall water loss through inaccurate water meters and help better manage when the water meters will need to be replaced. The large water meters will be able to have accuracy tests performed for the first time and also help determine the total non-revenue water due to under-registering water meters and enable staff to make a more informed business decision of when to change out the meters and not wait until they fail completely,” he added.
The submission of the status report is required by Stipulated Order Number 1 for the performance period March 1, 2023, through September 14, 2023.
CUC has completed 57 of the original 69 SO items, Hunt said.
“The remaining twelve activities are considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be in various states of noncompletion or in need of updates,” Hunt said.
CUC is prepared to discuss SO1 and SO2 matters with the court during the upcoming status conference, he added.
In Nov. 2008, after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited CUC for violating the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, the federal court issued Stipulated Orders 1 and 2.
SO1 focuses on drinking water issues while SO2 pertains to oil issues and requires CUC to repair and replace oil storage and operation infrastructure, manage tank and pipeline facilities, and require spill and emergency response equipment and protocols.
