DoD-GWA water system integration eyed

DoD-GWA water system integration eyed

Wednesday, 09 December 2009 04:44 by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff

ECHOING previous statements made by the Joint Guam Program Office director David Bice said Guam Waterworks Authority is “operating at near capacity in terms of water production” and the agency “could be indirectly affected by increased water demands associated with the construction workforce and induced population growth.”

The military buildup impact report further claims U.S. Navy and Air Force installations’ water infrastructure systems will be directly affected. Currently, the defense department has water storage units across the island with a collective storage capacity of roughly 23 million gallons, most of which consist of concrete structures either partially buried or covered with earth.

According to the environmental impact statement, GWA has prepared a five-year capital improvements that would cover fiscal years 2009 to 2013. The $200 million price tag for accommodating the induced population increase would include 22 additional wells plus transmission lines and storage facilities.

The defense department claims to not have seen the GWA improvement plan but the study does cite discussions between the two departments to “begin working through the details to coordinate GWA support for the proposed buildup.”

The military impact study notes capital improvements at GWA would be funded through “surplus system revenues, grants, and loans” and that “Substantial rate increase relief is anticipated.”

Water supply

The impact report further proposes that defense officials and GWA manage the Northern Guam lens aquifer, the source for off-base production wells supplying the northern air force base.

Other off-base water supply and transmission system include nine water production wells, two booster pump stations, three storage tanks, chlorination facilities, one fluoridation facility, and approximately 80,000 feet of water lines. An additional 700,000 feet of water lines are part of the current on-base water distribution system which includes a pump station and three storage tanks.

Distribution

The Andersen Air Force Base water system receives its water from Andersen Northwest Field and Andersen South, which includes an “off-base water supply; disinfection, storage, and transmission system; and an on base water distribution system.”

The Navy water system is an island-wide system extending from the Navy reservoir NCTS Finegayan near the northern tip of the island. Water from the Fena water treatment plant provides majority of the Navy water system’s needs.

The study also cited that “transmission lines connecting the Navy water system and the Andersen AFB system also exist, but they are presently out of service.”