All outpatient clinics at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center are closed today due to the water supply being interrupted and compromised.
An announcement from the hospital after midnight last night said that LBJ will focus and sustain services to the critical areas of the hospital. This closure will remain in effect until the hospital receives confirmation from the American Samoa Power Authority that water services are fully restored.
Dr. Jean Anderson told KHJ News the hospital has a back up water supply, but was not prepared and was not told that ASPA would be shutting down some of its boosters yesterday.
She said, “We were informed after the fact.”
She said LBJ reached out to the fire station, and the Fire Chief and firemen spent most of yesterday helping to supply back up water to the hospital for which they are very grateful.
LBJ will keep the community updated on the status of the water supply and provide information on the resumption of normal operations, as soon as possible.
Questions sent to ASPA CEO Wallon Young were not answered as of news time.
A notice on ASPA’s Facebook page said the heavy rains on Wednesday night caused high turbidity in two major wells in Fagaima. It became necessary to shut off both wells to prevent pumping contaminated water to the public. This action alone resulted in low water pressure in the central system.
The announcement said ASPA is transferring water from the Pavaiai system to replace loss production from the two wells.
“The central water system has stabilized but additional work is ongoing to improve the situation further,” said the announcement.
Schools and a few restaurants in the Tafuna area were, also, closed due to lack of water access.
