HONOLULU -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded over $6.7 million as part of a yearly grant to the Guam Waterworks Authority to improve drinking water and wastewater systems on Guam.

“The $6.7 million that EPA is providing Guam will go towards meeting critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure standards on the island. The future health of Guam's economy is dependent on securing clean air, water and land,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “There is still a lot of work to be done by GWA to improve both these systems to meet health and environmental goals.”

The wastewater funds will be used for system wide asset inventories, sewer system evaluations and assessments, hydraulic model development, and master planning activities to identify and prioritize projects. In addition, funds will be used for critical sewer pump station repairs.

Funding for the drinking water system will be similarly used for system wide asset inventories, condition assessments, hydraulic model development, and master planning activities to identify and prioritize projects for improving Guam’s drinking water system. Funds will also be used to assist GWA in meeting groundwater monitoring requirements.