CUC’s deputy director for the water and wastewater division, Megarr said they are trying to attain the highest quality of water in the CNMI.
He said they have adopted a more efficient program that minimizes their expenses while maximizing the operations of the water and wastewater system.
“There’s something we can do now under the stipulated orders — we just do it differently,” he told Variety, when asked how his division is implementing its programs despite CUC’s cash-strapped conditions.
Megarr said his division used to have no access to equipment, and vehicles, but “now we have access and have open purchases with different vendors.”
He said they have adopted procedures to make sure that these purchase orders are properly used.
Another program he introduced is the consolidation of water and wastewater into one division, he added.
The division has two operational groups to take care of water treatment and wastewater treatment, Megarr said.
His division, he added, has well-trained personnel for needed repairs.
CUC Executive Director Antonio Muna earlier said that they have yet “to go to the process of identifying local or federal funds” that can be allotted for the water and wastewater division.
When asked if he feels that CUC’s management is not giving priority to his division, Megarr said that they “don’t see ourselves as the maltreated children of CUC, but we see ourselves equal partner to the whole component.”
Megarr said his division, in coordination with the Water Task Force, has already met some stipulated order deliverables, although others are still in the process of completion.
He earlier told lawmakers that the water and wastewater division spends $4 for every $3 it collects.
In fiscal year 2008, he said the division spent $9.9 million and raised $6.3 million only, resulting in a $3.6 million deficit.
Complying with the federal government’s stipulated orders will cost CUC $2 million in FY 2009, he said.
