These valves, Megarr said, are an important part of the system and are used for flow control and isolating segments of waterline.
Due to these inoperable valves, he added, repairs on the system are very burdensome.
The valves are located under paved roads, making replacement difficult.
Megarr said there’s a need to repair the waterlines throughout Saipan since these date back from 1950’s and have leaks.
It is impossible to maintain a pressurized water system when there’s a leaking pipe, and a pressurized system is necessary to protect the water from contamination, he said.
When there’s a leak, water is wasted and lots of people cannot get 24-hour water supply, he added.
“The water system is also poorly recorded, making waterlines and connections hard to locate,” he said.
According to Megarr, CUC is now addressing the problem by working with several local and federal agencies.
Recently, he said, CUC applied for $6.3 million in federal stimulus grant for its water distribution repair project.
The project is in line with CUC’s compliance with the federal stipulation orders mandating the agency to, among other things, improve its water system infrastructure.
There are over 100 miles of pipes in Saipan’s water distribution system, Megar said, adding that the pipe materials include PVC, ductile iron, asbestos/cement, cast iron and galvanized iron.
