It's a big step forward in Guam Waterworks Authority's effort to slowly rid the island of cesspools and septic tanks.

The Consolidated Commission on Utilities has approved an amended plan to encourage customers to hook up to nearby sewer lines.

The Guam EPA requires that homes or buildings within 200 feet of a sewer line, must be hooked up.

The requirement has been on the books for years, but mainly due to costs, not a lot of customers have voluntarily stepped up. 

Only three customers are currently signed up for GWA's sewer hook-up revolving loan program

The CCU has approved what they hope will be a more attractive deal, it includes raising the loan limit from $9,000 to $20,000 and increasing the term from 10 years to 15.

GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo said they're focused on structures over the northern lens aquifer, our main water source.

"What we have been doing is try to prioritize areas where we know we have issues with nitrates in the water well and the septic tanks, in areas where we also have existing sewer, and then using smoke testing to verify which customers are connected and which customers aren't," he said. 

GWA is compiling a list it will provide to Guam EPA for enforcement.

CCU Chair Joey Duenas expects mixed results. 

"Some people are excited and want to get off their septic tank because they have to pump it every once in a while and they want to get on the sewer side, so that's why I was asking what triggers it," he said. "I envision you're gonna have some people who don't want to do it even though you give them a loan.

You have some people who want to do it for other reasons, maybe they have an apartment building or something and they want to hook up because they want good service. So whatever, I'm just saying be prepared for the barrage of people who want to do it, for you to say wait, wait, I have a priority."

The legislature has also appropriated $2 million in additional funding for the loan program.