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With four weeks of good test results in the can, the Guam Waterworks Authority wants to lift a "do not drink without treatment" advisory for the 1,200 Yigo residences served by water well Y-15. Customers served by dieldrin-contaminated Y-15 have been advised not to drink or cook with the water coming out of their taps since Sept. 12. But GWA finished installing an interim filtration system on Oct. 10, and the waterworks authority on Friday announced the fourth consecutive week of “non-detect” for treated water coming out of the well. The announcement comes as the latest batch of test results from an off-island laboratory came back. The latest sampling was done on Oct. 29, GWA stated. A "do not drink" advisory will stay in place until the Guam Environmental Protection Agency agrees to lift it. "We have worked diligently to implement corrective actions at Well Y-15, conduct comprehensive testing, and verify that the water is now safe to drink, cook with, and use for bathing,” GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo said in a statement on Friday. "Based on this data and validation of the treatment system’s effectiveness, we are confident it is appropriate to request that the order be rescinded." Residents will be notified immediately once Guam EPA officially rescinds the advisory, via local media, GWA social media platforms and guamwatersafety.com. Since Sept. 12, residents have been relying on GWA water stations around the village, as well as water bottle donations from the public and the waterworks authority to continue getting clean water. Pesticide dieldrin has been linked to increased cancer risk from long-term exposure, and liver and nervous system problems for short-term exposure at concentrations as high as the average 1.75 parts per billion collected at Y-15. The interim granular activated carbon filtration system at Yigo well Y-15 will continue to run until a permanent system is installed around next summer, GWA has said. Dededo well D-17 and Mangilao well M-4, both shut down this year, will also get permanent treatment by then. Home treatment for Y-15 customers Customers served by Y-15 can apply for reimbursements for “point of use” and “point of entry” home filtration systems in their homes, for up to $3,300, according to GWA. They can also apply for GWA to install filters at their home. Procurement is currently in progress for the systems. Once a contract has been awarded, GWA said it will contact “point of entry” home filtration system applicants to schedule home assessments and installations. Details about the application process are online at guamwatersafety.com. The program will expire once a permanent treatment system is online for Y-15 next summer. The program is meant to give another safeguard and peace of mind for customers until permanent treatment is done. For questions about health risks and water quality, one can call the Guam EPA community hotline at (671) 888-4342. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To see whether one’s household is impacted, call GWA at (671) 647-7800 or (671) 647-7803. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
