The Guam Waterworks Authority is marking three straight weeks of progress with dieldrin contamination. So how close are officials to lifting the Do Not Drink order for impacted households? And what does the latest information reveal about other wells around the island?

Could the advisory for households in the Yigo/Santa Rosa area impacted by dieldrin contamination soon be lifted? The short answer: possibly.  Off-island lab test results for Yigo’s Well Y-15 showing no detection of the pesticide for a third straight week.

GWA shared those results Monday—the consecutive trend signaling that its interim treatment system is seemingly working. A fourth round of sampling is now pending—and if those results also come back clean, GWA will submit a formal request to the Guam Environmental Protection Agency to lift the order.

In the meantime, the Do Not Drink advisory remains in place. GWA says it will keep operating the interim GAC treatment system at Well Y-15 until the permanent treatment system is completed, and will continue monthly sampling and analysis for dieldrin.

GWA also providing updates on other entry points: wells M-4 in Mangilao and D-17 in Dededo remain offline, with treatment systems under construction. Other wells with levels above 0.1 PPB—or 50% of the interim action level—include online Well EX-11 in Barrigada, Mangilao wells M-2 and M-3 (the latter operates intermittently if needed to meet customer demand), and Dededo’s D-18.

Wells A-23 and A-25 remain offline for PFAS since 2016, with treatment also under construction.

And out of 124 sample locations tested, 32 show no detection of dieldrin, while 83 locations are less than 50% of the IAL. GWA's Customer Call Service is also returning to normal hours, after extended call center hours for those in the Yigo/Santa Rosa area.

However, the Guam EPA's hotline remains available Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm for those with questions about health risks and water safety.

For more, contact 671-888-4342, or visit guamwatersafety.com.