“The total coliform violations were on Saipan and were due to elevated turbidity levels,” CUC said.
Although it is not a health emergency, CUC said water quality violation is still a concern and public notice was properly issued.
CUC said it continues to monitor its Saipan water system daily.
Saipan’s water quality issues can be attributed to the lack of 24-hour pressurization, poor equipment, and early warning devices on pumps, motors, and water quality instrumentation, CUC added.
“CUC is committed to correcting these deficiencies and to eventually provide 24-hour delivery of clean safe drinking water,” CUC said in its response to EPA’s comment about its chlorination and disinfection program.
Deborah E. Fisher, CUC’s general counsel, filed the response which pertains to CUC’s compliance with federal Stipulated Order 1.
On March 4, 2011, EPA conditionally approved CUC’s chlorination and disinfection program as CUC continued to work toward satisfying the specified conditions, including filling the additional operator position for the water systems on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.
In its comment, EPA encouraged CUC to press ahead as quickly as possible to hire additional qualified staff needed for the adequate operation of its water systems.
CUC said it has hired 10 certified operators since Dec. 2010.
But CUC experienced difficulty hiring one direct responsible charge operator for Rota.
“We are currently backfilling the Rota efforts from Saipan with a level 3 certified operator, Cmdr. Sheri Hadley of the U.S. Public Health Service,” CUC said.
CUC believes that Rota’s depressed economy, remote location, high cost of living and lack of medical facilities are contributing factors in its inability to hire an operator.
Rota experienced a supply problem due to a ruptured water main pipe, CUC said, but added that when it was reported the leak was immediately identified.
“CUC crews boosted supply by operating Rota’s three wells to quickly fill the drained reservoir,” CUC said.
On Aug. 19, EPA conditionally approved CUC’s plan for providing public notice of violations of drinking water standards and regulations.
But EPA disapproved CUC’s proposed wastewater and drinking water contingency plans.
The plans, which CUC submitted on March 21, 2011, are necessary to provide procedures and protocols for operations during emergencies such as typhoons, and to reduce the risk of contamination to and from the drinking water and wastewater sources and distribution systems.
EPA, however, approved CUC’s new three-year chlorination contract which requires chlorine deliveries sufficient to maintain 90-day inventory requirements.
