After nearly 20 years without running water or wastewater services, Gill Breeze residents now have hope for change.

Through federal grant funding allocated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Guam Waterworks Authority will soon be building those vital infrastructures.

Though GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo said it’s not going to be an overnight solution.

“The construction for a large scale infrastructure project, the design would take about a year. Then there’s permitting and procurement of the construction costs and contracts, then the construction period. All of that combined in the cycle can range from two to three years,” Bordallo said.

Still, it’s a huge step forward for many families in this underserved community.

Everyday, residents have to make a trip to fill up their water tanks at this community tap in order to take showers, wash their dishes and more.

One resident who wished to remain anonymous said she’s been living in these conditions since 2007.

She added, “It's been really hard because we’ve been living without water. We had to get our tanks and stuff and go down to the bus stop. There’s running water there where we are allowed to get water…We have to get the porta potty. We just use that temporarily because we don't have sewage. We’re really looking forward to the running water.”

The lack of water and wastewater services have been an ongoing issue since the early 2000s.

Landowners said private developer Cyfred promised those services but never followed through.

Bordallo added, “The wait, the length of time, has been associated with the failure on the part of the private developer.”

US EPA Region 9 engineer Tom Konnor told KUAM the agency is committed to award GWA up to an additional $15-million for this project.

“I can say in particular that I visited Gill Breeze about four years ago and I spoke with Miguel about Gill Breeze and about the problems of working something out and we came to an agreement that with this additional funding available, we would be able to put in drinking water and wastewater services for Gill Breeze,” said Konnor.

Though they have yet to identify a vendor, GWA already put out a request for proposal for a $2-million design service earlier this year.

Bordallo said, “There’s been a lot of work so we’re finally starting to see the fruits of that labor. So we just ask for their continued patience while we work to get the design and construction completed.”

Meantime, a Gill Breeze resident leaves this message, asking GWA to follow through with that promise.

They said, “I just want to ask if they’re able to help us because we’ve been struggling– everybody here, not just me but everybody on this ranch. They’ve been struggling for many years.”