Customers of the Guam Waterworks Authority could see a major rate hike in order for the utility agency to come up with $300 million to upgrade two of its wastewater treatment plants to secondary treatment.  The water agency today received word that the USEPA denied the agency's request to be exempt from that secondary treatment.

It's an exemption GWA has been granted since the 1970s. According to GWA General Manager Leonard Olive the denial was expected and GWA will file an appeal. He added he will work with the feds to find common ground.

As we've noted in previous stories, if GWA is required to upgrade its system it will cost close to a half-billion dollars.