JIC Release No. 7 - Water Tanker Locations; Boil Water Notice Remains in Place - GHS OCD

GWA Update:
The Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) has stationed four water tanks in designated areas of the island to support water needs as GWA assesses areas that need full water restoration.

The designated locations for the 4,000-6,000 gallon tankers include:

Santa Teresita, Mangilao
Ordot-Chalan Pago Mayor’s Office, Chalan Pago
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inalåhan
Dededo Mayor’s Office, Dededo

At this time, the water tanks listed above are accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Once the tanks are depleted, they will be refilled and returned to service at locations still without water. Residents island-wide who have water service are advised to conserve and limit use for cleaning, bathing, and cooking in order to conserve water to allow reservoir levels to increase.

As a precaution, water obtained from these designated locations must be boiled for at least three (3) minutes prior to consumption. A precautionary boil water notice remains in place due to possible bacterial contamination in the water that can occur when increased run-off enters a drinking water source following heavy rains.

Boil Water Notice Tips:

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.
Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three (3) minutes, and let it cool before using or use bottled water.
Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice.
Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

GWA continues its restoration and post-typhoon recovery efforts. GWA reports that as of 10:00 a.m.:

Currently 50% of operable wells are online
GWA continues to operate all available wells to increase reservoir levels throughout the northern system
The connection to Navy-supplied sources at Sånta Rita-Sumai and Nimitz Hill has been restored and service is being restored to the area
The new Winward Hills Reservoir was put online after chlorination reached acceptable levels. providing partial service to the village of Talo’fo’fo
GWA crews continue work to repair a water main break in Hågat before service can be restored

To report water outages, call GWA at (671) 647-7800.

Visit the following links for the latest advisory information:

GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/
JRM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrmguam

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC Release No. 7 - Water Tanker Locations; Boil Water Notice Remains in Place