The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is stepping in to assist Guam with the cleanup of dieldrin contamination at a Yigo well, providing funding, technical guidance, and compliance support to restore safe drinking water for affected residents. The move follows a request for federal help from Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio.
EPA Acting Regional Administrator Mike Martucci confirmed the agency is working closely with Guam EPA and the Guam Waterworks Authority. GWA will be able to use EPA grant funds to purchase treatment units for homes and wellheads, as well as tap into the agency’s Emerging Contaminant Grant program to build and install permanent systems.
The federal agency is also collaborating with GWA to finance and accelerate construction of a permanent treatment system at Well Y-15, which has been under a “Do Not Drink Without Treatment” advisory. “EPA’s partnership is critical in our effort to protect public health,” Tenorio said. “With their technical guidance and access to federal funding, we can take swift and coordinated action to ensure families in Yigo and across our island have access to safe drinking water.”
In addition to funding, the EPA is providing technical and compliance assistance for Guam’s Dieldrin Interim Action Level Rule, monitoring, and eventual lifting of the advisory once safety standards are met. Residents with questions about water safety can call the Guam EPA Dieldrin Hotline at (671) 888-4342 or visit epa.guam.gov.