AT least four sewer manholes on Saipan overflow when it rains or when pump stations break, posing health and safety hazards to humans and the environment.
On Beach Road, a sewer system is emitting foul odor for a month now.
The Coastal Resources Management, meanwhile, issued a warning notice to a garment factory in lower As Terlaje road for discharging wastewater to an open ground.
Rags and trash that end up in the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s wastewater system have been a major cause of clogged sewer pumps, according to acting CUC Executive Director Bernard Villagomez.
CUC said these sewage systems are located at the beach in Tanapag; near the beach at the Lower Base’s Division of Fish and Wildlife parking lot; at Chalan Kanoa; and at Pacific Islands Club.
Villagomez said these sewers are being upgraded with better pumps.
He said CUC will immediately place “informational signs” at each sewer overflow “to caution the public.”
“This used to be a standard operating procedure, and we’re putting it back into operation right now,” said Villagomez in a report to the CUC board of directors.
He said CUC is also increasing education campaign and partnerships with other agencies “to decrease rags and trash that end up in the wastewater system, plugging the pumps.”
Villagomez said to stop the sewer problems, CUC’s control room must immediately involve all managers in power outages and other problems that may affect wastewater and water operations.
In addition, CUC assigned a power generation electrician to inspect and repair the electronics on all sewer pump stations.
“The Wastewater Division completed contracts with the private sector to repair and design improvements that prevent more wastewater overflows,” Villagomez added.
In related news, Joaquin D. Salas, acting CRM director, said U.S. CNMI Development Garment Factory is in violation of the CUC sewer regulation.
A site inspection showed that storm drainage pipes were diverted into the garment’s wet well, and some of the main sewer piping were cut out to allow the runoff from the buildings to enter the wet well.
CRM gave the garment firm 30 days to address the matter from receipt of the April 2 warning notice.
“Failure to comply may result in fines up to $10,000 per day for non-compliance,” Salas told William Fong, manager of U.S. CNMI Development Garment Factory.
