Guam's water service restored but remains unstable after Sinlaku

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Guam’s water service is almost fully restored after disruption caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku last week, but the Guam Waterworks Authority cautioned residents against complacence.

“Whenever, in the opinion of GWA and in the interest of the public, special conservation measures are advisable in order to forestall water shortage and a consequent emergency, GWA may restrict the use of water by any reasonable method of control,” according to the Joint Information Center.

JIC said 95 of 98 GWA’s wells were back online as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, with five wells on standby power generation and 90 wells on the island-wide power system.

Super Typhoon Sinlaku, packing 175 mph winds, made landfall on Guam on Tuesday and lasted 30 hours, affecting water, power and telecommunication system.

While working to restore reservoir levels and system pressure, GWA advised the community to practice strict water conservation during recovery efforts.

GWA estimates that 42,818 customers have had water services restored.

However, isolated parts of the areas where service has been restored may still experience low to no pressure from damaged service lines, GWA said, noting reports of low- to no-water pressure affecting approximately 852 customers, mostly in Yigo and Dededo.

“Residents are reminded that even as pressure is restored, outages and instances of low to no pressure may still occur as system adjustments are still being performed to respond to the power system,” GWA said.

JIC said the Guam Power Authority is working closely with GWA to restore power to wells impacted by the storm.

Officials reminded residents that reservoir levels are in recovery and service at specific locations within the distribution system may vary throughout the day.

Customer demand during peak hours will affect the rate at which pressure can build to acceptable service levels as reservoirs are still filling, officials said.

GWA inspectors are visiting homes and businesses to seek compliance with special water conservation measures. GWA has received voluntary compliance from homes and business establishments across the island.

GWA urged residents to refrain from washing vehicles and pressure washing or flushing driveways and sidewalks and limit water use in the kitchen and bathroom, noting that non-essential water usage may place unnecessary stress on pressure within the water distribution system. 

"Additionally, there may be an increased risk of backups and sewer overflows as wastewater pump and plant operations have been affected by the storm, reducing proper collection of wastewater from customers connected to GWA’s sewer," GWA said.

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Meanwhile, results from 101 samples collected throughout the water distribution system from April 15 to 20 have returned negative results for bacterial contamination.

Sample collection was performed in parts of Agana Heights, Assan-Ma’ina, Barrigada, Barrigada Heights, Dededo, Hagåt, Hagåtña, Harmon, Inalåhan, Mangilao, Malesso’, Malojloj, Nimitz Hill, Piti, Sånta Rita-Sumai, Talo’fo’fo, Tamuning, Tumon, Yona and Yigo.

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