ASPA explains cause of dirty water & low water pressure

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Heavy rain has inundated some of the islands high producing water wells with dirty water forcing the American Samoa Power Authority to shut them down.

This has resulted in low water pressure from the Tafuna well field which supplies water for  the area from Fagaima all the way to Fagatogo.

William Spitzenberg, Environmental Division Manager at ASPA says they shut down two high produceing wells in Tafuna last week and usually it takes a few days for the bad water to flush out and the wells recover.

However its taken more than a week now for the wells to clean themselves out.  He said they’re not sure how long before the water situation is rectified at the Tafuna wells .

Residents in the affected area have reported that either they get a trickle of water or nothing at all especially when it’s time to take showers or cook meals in the evening.

ASPA reminds the public that this area continues to be under the long standing Boil Water Notice.

ASPA has secured funding from USEPA to install a filtration system to resolve this problem and life the boil water notice.  This project is on scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.

ASPA apologizes to customers for the recent dirty water and low water pressure issues.

The lack of water at the Territorial Correctional Facility is one of the issues that the department of Health is concerned about with a number of inmates experiencing the same illness this past few days.

Deputy Director of Health Papalii Marion Fitisemanu says its unsanitary and they are talking with ASPA and DPS to try and improve the water situation.