ROTA — Restoring power to the primary mainlines feeding the Rota Health Center will take approximately two to four weeks, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation said Saturday in its first restoration estimate since Super Typhoon Bavi, as water service returned to the majority of customers following repairs to the island’s main waterline.
Preliminary assessments indicate severe damage to Rota’s power distribution and generation system, CUC said in a utility service update. Power crews have begun restoration work on Feeder 2, from the power plant to the distribution grid.
The two-to-four-week estimate for the Health Center mainlines depends on field conditions, material availability and the extent of repairs needed, the utility said. Crews have deployed heaters and blowers to dry the generators and controls affected by heavy rain, allowing testing of the units.
The estimate covers the priority mainlines and is the first official timeline for any portion of the Rota grid, where CUC’s latest situation report counted 117 damaged wooden poles, 11 leaning poles and 63 damaged transformers. Residents interviewed by NMI News Service this week said they had heard unofficial figures of two to six months for full restoration; CUC has issued no island-wide timeline.
On the water side, repairs have been completed to the waterline from the Main Water Cave, and service has been restored to the majority of customers, CUC said. Crews have identified leaks in the distribution system and are actively making repairs. Customers in higher-elevation areas may still experience low water pressure or no service as the system continues to stabilize.
The water filling station in the Ginalangan area remains open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., with filling limited to 25 gallons per vehicle due to limited supply.
A boil water notice remains in effect for Rota. Customers should bring all water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes, then let it cool before using.
