Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Acting Executive Director Betty Terlaje talks with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios prior to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Isley Field and Obyan Wells Granular Activated Carbon Water Filtration System Construction Project on Friday.
THE Commonwealth Utilities Corporation held a groundbreaking ceremony for the federally funded Isley Field and Obyan Wells Granular Activated Carbon or GAC Water Filtration System Construction Project on Friday.
CUC Deputy Executive Director for Water/Wastewater Kevin Watson said the GAC treatment system will treat and remove Perfluorooctanoic Acid or PFOA and Perfluorooctane sulfonate or PFOS from CUC water.
“As you may know PFOS has been in existence since the early 1950s and used as firefighting foam — it’s not only an issue for the CNMI, but nationwide and worldwide. PFOS can cause cancer and other illnesses [through] longtime consumption,” Watson said.
CUC, in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, determined that GAC filter units are the most effective treatment for removing contaminations and are best suited for the islands.
The project’s total funding was $2,158,020, CUC acting chief engineer Larry Manacop said.
Of the amount, he said “$1,167,120 is for the GAC equipment, and $540,800 for construction costs.”
The U.S Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior provided the funds.
“The project is composed of the installation of four GAC filter units … at Isley Booster 1. These units will be connected to an existing transmission line, which connects to 19 wells. A flow of about 700-800 gallons per minute will go through each of the filter units for the removal of PFOA/PFOS contamination. The treated water will then flow to the As Terlaje tank. An existing booster pump connected to the As Terlaje tank pumps water to the Kannat Tabla tank,” Manacop said.
It was in 2015 when elevated concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were discovered at some of the Isley Field and Obyan wells, Manacop said.
In May 2016, he said USEPA issued nationwide primary drinking water regulations to establish legally enforceable levels for PFOS and PFOA.
As a result of the drinking water regulations, Manacop said, “CUC had to shut down six Isley Field wells that fed the As Terlaje tank service area and the Kannat Tabla tank service areas, and three Obyan wells that fed the Isley Tank service area.”
He said the reduction of operational wells at Isley Field due to PFOS/PFOA contamination had a significant effect on water operations. It made it difficult to maintain a 24-hour water supply within the adjacent tanks service areas supplied by the Isley Field well, Manacop said.
Serious contaminant
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, BECQ Safe Drinking Water Manager Travis Spaeth joined CUC Board Chair Janice Tenorio, Board Member Rebecca White, Acting Executive Director Betty Terlaje, other CUC officials and staff in the groundbreaking ceremony.
In his remarks, Palacios said, “PFOS contaminant is a serious contaminant to our water. I want to commend CUC for pursuing this project. I am happy to join you today. This is a project that … needs to be done to address the potential dangers of our water system. Thank you for taking care of this community and providing safe water and mitigating … this particular issue.”
For her part, Tenorio said, “Water is critical and very important for each and every one of us. Today is history in the making. The welfare of the community, businesses and every individual in Saipan is important.”
Spaeth, in turn, said, “CUC had to fight very hard for funding. They fought hard to design and specify the proper treatment for the island. CUC [also] overcame multiple permitting issues to get this project to this stage. I commend the CUC engineers, the operators, the lab staff for all the hard work they put in. … CUC did not create this problem — this problem was inherited, the PFOS, mainly the years of firefighting foam being used for training purposes here on the island. CUC had seen some of the highest level of PFOS in the nation. … This caused [CUC] to invest tons of time, money and resource to test, treat and operate their system.”
CUC Acting Executive Director Betty G. Terlaje thanked the staff, the Palacios-Apatang administration, and the other stakeholders involved in making the project possible.
“You have dedicated your time and expertise to bring this project to life. Your commitment to CUC and our community is commendable, Terlaje added.
“Your presence here today underscores the importance of this project and the impact it had on our citizens and on our community,” she said. “We break ground on this endeavor, and we stand united in our mission to provide clean, reliable and sustainable water resources to the people of the CNMI. This project will enhance public health and well-being and contribute to the economic development of our island. Let us lay the foundation for a brighter and cleaner future for the Marianas. May this groundbreaking ceremony carry out a successful and transformative journey for stable water resources for all,” Terlaje said.
The project is expected to be completed by June 6, 2024.
Paragon Corporation, doing business as CorePlus Construction, is the project contractor.
