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EPA awards $918,700 in grants to Guam Waterworks Authority

Release Date: 3/31/2004
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, (808) 541-2711

HONOLULU The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $918,700 in grant funds to the Guam Waterworks Authority to upgrade the island's drinking water systems.

The funds will be used to upgrade Guam's groundwater chlorination system. Specifically, work crews will rehabilitate, replace and install new groundwater chlorination systems for 35 wells primarily in the Sinajana, Hagatna, Agana Heights and Chalan Pago areas, and also the upgrade the Asan Springs chlorination system.

"It is vital that Guam starts upgrading its drinking water systems to ensure a safe and clean drinking water supply for the island's residents," said Mike Lee, Guam water program manager for the EPA Pacific Southwest Region's Pacific Islands Office. "The funding will go a long way to helping GWA achieve its long range plan for improving drinking water quality on Guam."

The EPA funds are being used to address a significant number of GWA's most critically identified wells to ensure proper and adequate chlorination and control of microbiological contaminants within the water supply distribution system.

GWA has developed a project workplan for the upgrade of these chlorination systems and will be starting work on the project soon.

The grant funds are the result of congressionally approved special projects and programs identified in the EPA's fiscal year 2002 and 2003 appropriations.

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