GENERAL SUMMARY
● The majority of the island’s water production comes from the Northern Water Wells, which then travels through a series of pipes and reservoirs to the Central and Southern parts of the island.
● Currently 89 wells (74% of operable wells are on-line) and producing approximately 32 million gallons of water per day (approximately 93% of pre-typhoon production).
● Guam’s water system relies on adequate water levels in the reservoirs in order for there to be enough pressure to push the water throughout the island.
● Once enough wells have been brought online, and water production sufficiently exceeds demand, GWA will have enough water to fill the reservoirs and provide sufficient pressure to distribute water island wide.
● GWA reminds those residents WITH water service to please conserve water and avoid washing cars, water blasting and other non-essential high water-usage activities to assist with rebuilding reservoir levels and restoring water service island wide.
● GWA continues to implement multiple strategies to bring as many wells online as quickly as possible, and keep them running, including:
1. GPA energizes areas were deepwells are located
2. GPA, GWA, and maintenance contractors continue to repair, maintain and re-fuel existing generators.
3. FEMA generators deployed to well sites where genset repairs cannot be made quickly.
Coordinate with FEMA on re-fueling and maintaining their generators to keep sites operating.
4. Two crews are working to replace pumps and motors in 21 wells. One GWA crew and
one crew made up of GWA, GPA and maintenance contractors. Each changeout takes approximately 12 to 16 hours to complete.
● GWA has restored water to 71% of customers, but due to power fluctuations, temporary outages and/or intermittent service may result. GWA asks for your patience as we work to restore our system to pre-storm conditions.
REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM UPDATE
Here is the most recent update on GWA water restoration progress:
Northern Region:
● The Northern water system facilities are operating normally, with 76% of wells having access to island or generator power.
● 49 wells are currently operating on island power, while 40 are operating on generator power.
● Crews are working to restore 2% of wells needing power, minor repairs or increase of flow.
● 16% of wells require pump and motor replacements, which have been approved by the EPA and began Wednesday, May 31.
● GWA continues to operate all available wells to increase reservoir levels throughout the northern system and send more water to the Central system.
Central Region:
● GWA sources and Navy-supplied sources continue to supply Santa Rita and Agat. The high-elevation areas of Santa Ana have been restored.
● Service on Cross-Island Road area restored to Sumay Memorial area.
● Talofofo main village has been restored but remains susceptible to outages as reservoir levels drop during times of high demand — GWA crews continue to monitor the system in the area.
● Tumon, Tamuning, Chalan Pago and Sinajana will continue to experience intermittent service disruption during peak demand times.
● Barrigada is now receiving consistent service, but with low water pressure.
● Crews are still working to restore service to the higher elevated areas in the M-T-M area above Benson.
● Mangilao has service in the low elevation areas and continues to have partial service in the higher elevation areas, such as Corten Torres St (BPM area), UOG, and Mariano St. area. Generally, these areas have water in the evening, with low to no water service by morning.
Southern Region:
● The Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant is producing approximately 1340 gallons per minute, but service areas will be subject to temporary outages during periods of high demand.
● Power fluctuations caused some interruptions to some sites, but that is to be expected during recovery operations.
WASTEWATER SYSTEM UPDATE
The Northern District, Agat-Santa Rita, Umatac-Merizo, Hagåtña Wastewater Treatment Plants are all operating normally. The Inalåhan Wastewater Treatment Plant is without power.
Although several sewer pump stations were returned to island power, some GWA facilities remain on generator power, and GWA is working with GPA to monitor power status at both GWA wastewater pump stations and treatment plants.
Sewer system overflows may occur as pump station sites may become inundated or lose power during restoration of service. GWA is reporting these overflows to EPA and cautions the public to avoid contact with suspected sewage overflows. GWA is also responding to reports of sewage overflows at private pump station facilities or blocked private sewer mains, and is assisting where it can.
CURRENT PRIORITIES
• Deepwell Operations & Pump/Motor Changeouts
• Water System Restoration
• Water Tanker service to dialysis centers and clinics
• Water Tanker deployment for pocket outages
VILLAGE WATER STATIONS
GWA has deployed nine 6000-gallon Flexible Potable Water Tanks and one 6800-gallon tanker in:
NORTH:
Dededo Mayor’s Office
Mount Santa Rosa Yigo (near observatory)
Astumbo Community Center – (2 flextanks) Dededo
Yigo Gym
Yigo – Gill Breeze Subdivision
CENTRAL
Mangilao – St. Teresita Church (1 flex tank and 1 FEMA tanker)
Adacao Elementary School
SOUTH
Santa Rita / Apra Heights – Sinifa
Santa Ana – Agat
Two GWA and one FEMA water tanker are being used to refill facilities critical to emergency response.
Precautionary Boil Water Notice:
GWA Water System
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
Due to the impact to GWA’s Water system from Typhoon Mawar portions of the water system have experienced reduced pressure which may pose a risk to customers. Out of an abundance of caution, GWA issues this Precautionary Boil Water Notice while GWA restores the water system and laboratory analysis confirms the water is safe to drink.
What should I do? What does this mean?
● DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three (3) minutes, and let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
● Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these waters can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other systems. They pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
● The systems above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
What is being done?
Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source, if there is a loss of line pressure to less than 5 psi, a pipe break lasted more than 12 hours or there is a failure in the water treatment process. This advisory is being issued as a precaution while GWA works to bring all production facilities back into service and replenish water tank levels to increase pressure in the system. As production and pressure in the system is restored, GWA will ensure that the system is sampled and tested, and chlorine levels and pressures have been confirmed to be within acceptable levels.