The Department of Justice announced the Guam Waterworks Authority agreed to a consent decree with the federal government today to improve the quality of its sewer system, estimated to cost $400-million.

This would address unauthorized overflows of untreated sewage and other violations of the Clean Water Act.

The feds filed a complaint in the District Court of Guam alleging GWA was in violation of provisions of the Clean Water Act and applicable permits by repeatedly discharging untreated sewage from its wastewater collection system and discharging excess pollutants from its wastewater treatment plants.

The feds reported at least 237 sanitary sewer overflows have occurred from GWA’s collection system since 2018.

The consent decree requires GWA to minimize overflows.

GWA will also develop a feasibility study for secondary treatment upgrades to the hagåtña wastewater treatment plant.

“The filing of the Partial Consent Decree marks a successful negotiation with the USEPA to align their regulatory enforcement requirements with work GWA has already begun, as set out in its 2018 Water Resources Master Plan,” said GWA General Manager Miguel C. Bordallo.

He added, “Although GWA does not always agree with USEPA on their respective positions, we negotiate in good faith to move towards realistic solutions with which we can comply. The planned investments in Guam’s infrastructure have near-term positive impacts on our community, including system capacity enhancements to support growth and development, improved wastewater services, and improved protection of public and environmental health.”

Once the Partial Consent Decree is approved by the Court, GWA will have 10 years to complete a rigorous schedule of wastewater collection system assessments, evaluations, analyses, design and construction activities to rehabilitate and improve its sewer system piping network, pump stations, as well as formalize various programs already in place, such as an Industrial Pre-Treatment Program, Fats-Oil-Grease Program and an Asset Management Program.

“The CCU and GWA have spent a lot of resources on re building our wastewater treatment plants and will continue to make these types of improvements with the sewer collection system, because we want clean beaches and clean water for our people,” said CCU Chairman Joey Dueñas.

He added, “It’s great that EPA wants us to do these things, too, but the timing and expense need to be balanced for the sake of our community. I believe we have done the best we could to reach an agreement and avoid a costly litigation.”