Several families in Yigo have issued a formal notice of intent to sue the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) and Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA), demanding immediate action to address dangerous levels of dieldrin, a pesticide banned more than 35 years ago but detected in the community’s drinking water.
In a Sept. 22 letter from attorneys Leevin Taitano Camacho and Shannon Taitano, families alleged that GWA has long known about the contamination but delayed corrective action despite U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warnings dating back to 2012. GWA’s own tests showed dieldrin levels averaging 1.75 parts per billion in the Santa Rosa area of Yigo — far above the U.S. EPA health advisory threshold of 0.002 ppb. In a Sept. 12 advisory, GWA warned more than 1,100 customer accounts in the area not to cook, brush teeth, or prepare food with tap water.
The families outlined six demands, including bottled water distribution, monthly testing with public reporting, accelerated treatment system installation before the projected summer 2026 date, and proactive notification to all potentially affected households. They also requested a population-level impact assessment, noting that the number of affected individuals far exceeds the number of customer accounts. The letter criticized agencies for “vague promises” and urged GEPA to fully exercise its powers under the Guam Safe Drinking Water Act.
Alongside the intent to sue, the families filed a Sunshine Act request for records on dieldrin testing, health risk communications, contracts, and delayed treatment plans. Unless agencies provide specific commitments within 14 days, the attorneys said they will pursue litigation in both Guam Superior Court and federal court. “Families cannot wait another year to be assured that the water from their taps is safe,” the letter stated.