Agat Santa Rita Wastewater Treatment Plant in Guam to see $45m upgrade

The Consolidated Commission on Utilities (CCU) of Guam in the US has approved a plan to invest $45m to renovate Agat Santa Rita Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The commission has approved the design contract that the Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) has signed with Duenas, Camacho & Associates, paving the way for the renovation.

The construction works for the new plant will start from June next year and the design will cost around $4.6m, according to Gualpdn.com.

CCU chairman Simon Sanchez stated that GWA floated a contract for construction of the plant after receiving the design.

The upgrade is being undertaken to comply with earlier court orders, which ordered improvement to nine treatment plants in southern villages on the island.

Mr Sanchez noted that the overall upgrade of the plant is being completed in accordance with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

GWA wants to convert the Baza Gardens Wastewater Treatment Plant to a pump station in order to supply water for the Agat Santa Rita plant, instead of an outright reconstruction, according to Mr Sanchez.

Mr Sanchez said: "We believe this would make it cheaper for ratepayers.

"The plan has been conceptually engineered and sent to EPA for their approval."