GWA: Younex must pay for plant upgrades

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Without the upgrades and improvements to the Northern District Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Younex workforce housing project cannot be occupied. That's the Guam Waterworks Authority's opinion stated in a filing with the District Court. As it stands, GWA cannot meet the water demands with its current production capacity. 

The utility agency says if the housing project were to proceed, Younex would have to develop additional sources to meet the demand and add a storage tank.  GWA Attorney Sam Taylor says all construction for infrastructure improvements must be at the expense of the developer. Younex had hoped to construct workforce housing for up to 18,000 construction workers during the buildup.  They received permission from the Department of Public Works to erect a shell, but must obtain various approvals from agencies like GWA before they can get an actual building permit.  

GWA contends any and all costs associated with the new infrastructure to service the Younex compound would be the responsibility of the developer.