World Water Crisis (LIFE)

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Guam gets $3.9M for water projects
http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8815:guam-gets-39m-for-water-projects&catid=1:guam-local-news&Itemid=2

“This remarkable opportunity to provide much-needed support for sustainable water and energy-efficient drinking water and wastewater systems throughout the U.S. is unprecedented,” said Laura Yoshii, acting regional administrator for EPA in the Pacific Southwest. “This funding will allow Guam to identify its highest water infrastructure priorities, protect human health and surface water quality, address climate change, and create critical green jobs as a foundation for a sustainable future.”

Guam will receive $1,836,500 for its wastewater construction program. The EPA grant provides funding for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. Guam also will receive $2,124,000 to improve its drinking water system.

An unprecedented $6 billion will be awarded to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects.

The new grant was announced following EPA’s announcement last week about its final decisions to deny the Guam Waterworks Authority’s permit variances exempting the Agana and Northern District wastewater treatment plants from secondary treatment requirements.

The EPA has concluded discharges from the two plants do not meet the Clean Water Act’s requirements as both plants discharge treated wastewater exceeding Territorial water quality standards for bacteria, designed to protect recreational activities such as swimming and fishing.

Additionally, neither plant has met the minimum standards for primary treatment, which require 30 percent removal of total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand.

“We have determined that both wastewater plants fail to achieve the Clean Water Act requirements for a variance from secondary treatment,” said Yoshii. “EPA will continue our work with the Guam government to protect the vital water resources of the island.”

GWA’s Agana and Northern District plants have been operating under variances from secondary treatment. With the final decision to deny the renewal of the variances, both plants will be required to upgrade to full secondary treatment. EPA will work with GWA to develop a schedule for implementing projects consistent with GWA’s priorities. GWA has invested in improvements to its wastewater collection system, significantly reducing sewage spills.