SAIPAN — The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation reported Tuesday that primary feeder line damage assessments on Saipan are 100 percent complete, with work now shifting to secondary feeder lines and power services to residential roads, as restoration crews push through 604 downed power poles across the island.
Feeder 1 and 3, Partial 1 to the hospital, was energized at 4:00 p.m. on April 19. Feeder 4 crews completed clearing downed wooden poles from Kagman Main Road. Kiya 1 crews are restringing and reframing conductors toward the water wells in preparation to energize, though two water wells have been identified with transformer damage. Kiya 3 has completed restoration work on Middle Road from Sugar King to the Quarter Master Intersection and is continuing toward the Chalan Msgr. Guerrero Road intersection near IT&E. The Kiya Substation is undergoing battery recharging and water pumping with no structural damage found.
A total of 15,624 customers remain without power, including 11,769 residential customers.
Power plants 1, 2 and 4 have completed preliminary damage assessments, with debris clearing ongoing. Contractors are expected to begin side wall repairs with a three-to-four week estimated timeline for temporary work. Power Plant 3 is pending the status of power distribution. The Aggreko unit is awaiting clearance from power distribution and generation teams before feeders can be energized.
On water, CUC is producing 4.1 million gallons per day, or about 40 percent of full production capacity, and has begun supplying water to Tank Service Areas following generator refueling. Only about 21 percent of Saipan customers are receiving water service. A backup generator was deployed to the IF-28 well to supply water to the Saipan International Airport as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Capitol Hill and Gualo Rai are among the best-served areas at 90 and 85 percent respectively, while Kannat Tabla, As Terlaje, Rapagao and Dandan remain at zero percent. A FEMA generator request for the Agingan Wastewater Treatment Plant was confirmed.
The four public water filling stations remain open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Puerto Rico Road, Chalan Kanoa near WSR Elementary School, Chacha Road in Kagman and Tuturam Drive. A boil water notice remains in effect.
On Tinian, all power feeders remain offline. Damage assessments to feeders are about 80 percent complete with an initial estimate of 245 downed poles. A two-person crew was dispatched Tuesday to assess the power plant. A total of 1,075 customers are without power, including 764 residential customers. The Tinian water system is 90 percent online, with some customers experiencing low pressure. The boil water notice remains in effect.
On Rota, Feeder 1 is fully energized on primary lines with two customers still without power, and Feeder 2 is approximately 90 percent restored on primary lines with 33 customers still affected. Water services are 100 percent online with the exception of isolated incidents, with crews repairing service lateral leaks caused by uprooted trees. The boil water notice remains in effect on Rota.
CUC is reminding the public not to touch or cut power lines, which would hamper damage assessments and deplete materials needed for restoration.
A special CUC board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, at 9:30 a.m. at the Joeten Dandan Building, Room 17.
