A Do Not Drink advisory is still in place after more than 1,100 households were told in September that their water supply from well Y-15 in Yigo contained the banned pesticide Dieldrin.
On Oct. 12, GWA completed installation of an interim treatment system for the well. The Do Not Drink order will not be lifted until after a series of test results. According to GWA, the decision to lift the order will be taken by GWA and Guam EPA, after testing. Nic Lee, PIO for GWA, told media on Oct. 13, that the first test results will likely be available in October. “We expect results back within seven to 10 business days.”
GWA's Y-15 water well in Yigo was outfitted with an interim water treatment system on Oct. 12. Photo by Skyler Obispo
Leewin T. Camacho, attorney with Camacho & Taitano LLP, said the practice issued a notice to sue “about two months ago,” he told the Journal on Oct. 14. He has been following progress, he said. “There’s been quite a lot of activity since then.”
He said his office has been investigating the timeline of which agencies knew what, and when.
U.S. EPA sent GWA and Guam EPA a “Finding of Significant Deficiencies” in GWA’s public water system in the 2012/2013 timeframe, Camacho said, and his office reached out to the two agencies about the letter. “They said they lost track of it,” he said.
Camacho’s office also served a Sunshine Act Freedom of Information request for documentation related to the dieldrin issue. “We received 1,150 documents on [Oct. 11],” he said.
As to whether Camacho’s practice would file a class action suit, Camacho said he could not confirm that at this point. However, he said, “We’re not ruling it out.” mbj
In a release congratulating Markwayne Mullin on his confirmation as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transport Security Administration, TSA shared information on its current situation.
The Port Authority of Guam cut the ribbon on the upgraded Equipment, Maintenance, and Repair Building, signaling the completion of the $3.84 million project.
The Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation has acknowledged the issues it has in a March 23 release and said it “is currently operating with adjusted services due to a temporary issue with its tax and licensing system.”
