CNMI's Critical Water Resources Research Needs
Identified at Previous Advisory meetings
Updated at October 18, 2005 Meeting

Ground, Surface, and Coastal Water Quality

Impact studies

Research that leads to a better understanding of or the possible solution to problems caused by the impact of mans activities or natural processes on CNMI's fresh water quality such as:

• Impacts of aquaculture operation on freshwater and near-shore environments
• Impact and sources of arsenic in MARPO Watershed, Tinian
• Impact of RO brine disposal injection wells on near shore environment and possible influence of this practice on saltwater intrusion within the developable aquifer
• Impacts of old and unregistered pesticides in all watersheds to include soils testing to look for pesticide residues
• Impact of high chloride levels in the wastewater stream on the efficiency of the existing wastewater treatment facilities
• Impact of freshwater discharges on estuaries in Saipan, Tinian and Rota
• Impact of illegal household waste disposal sites on drinking water supplies
• Determine nitrate and nitrite levels in soils around sanitary and other waste disposal systems and map their relationships to potable water supply sources
• Continue to monitor the levels of contamination (PCB, heavy metals and pesticides) in fisheries resources from Tanapag Lagoon
• Assess and evaluate the impact of construction of secondary roads on soil erosion and quality of storm water runoff
• Develop a GIS database of location of septic tanks in Saipan in order to determine the impacts of these systems on groundwater, surface water and the near shore environment

Baseline studies

Research that leads to a better understanding of existing levels of contaminants to serve as a basis to judge the effects of mans future activities on the quality of CNMI's fresh water resources such as:

• Pre-construction baseline studies for planned paving of secondary roads. Data to include existing water quality, sediment production etc
• Studies to identify alternative monitoring strategies to reduce the impact of the loss of the USGS water data monitoring program in the CNMIBaseline studies designed to identify the location and levels of key contaminants in existing or future water sources and the processes that might explain their presence
• Baseline studies to examine the overall quality of rainwater catchment system water

Modeling Studies

Research aimed at developing means of predicting the fate and transport of containments in CNMI's freshwater systems such as:

• Modeling Studies and other hydrogeology investigations to assist in the development of new groundwater resources and the regulation of existing pumping to improve the salinity problems in the public drinking water system (Highest Rated Water Quality Issue)
• Modeling studies to determine movement of contaminants from sewer outfall structures
• Studies designed to identify the sources of and model the growth of bacteria in brine injection wells
• Studies to model the fate and transport of contaminants in the groundwater in Tinian especial close to the casino site
• Modeling of existing RO brine injection wells to determine whether there may be some impacts on existing or potential groundwater supplies
• Studies to define and delineate the transport and fate of contaminants such as nitrates and chlorides, organic compounds, and thallium containing compounds through CNMI's aquifers
• Studies to develop GIS applications to soil erosion and watershed management with accompanying training
• Studies to develop appropriate R-factors for use in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation for the islands of the CNMI

Regulatory Studies

Research to investigate the need for new regulations and the effectiveness of existing regulations that deal with CNMI's fresh water quality issues such as:

• Studies designed to develop nutrient standards for CNMI conditions (Western Pacific region wide application)
• Studies to determine appropriate well head protection or zone of influence protection for Tinian water tunnel.
• Studies that would create a watershed atlas for CNMI. This atlas would:
• Build on the atlas of water resources developed previously
• Provide detailed watershed delineation and stream geometry for all major watersheds
• Identify sink holes, wetlands and badland areas
• Information would be provided in a coordinated GIS frame work with maps (and GIS coverages) available to regulating agencies and to private citizens thought the world wide web
• Act as a regulatory framework for development of lands within watersheds
• Studies that would review and improve regulations dealing with aquaculture effluent

Development of or Application of New Technologies to Water Quality Issues

Studies to investigate the development of or application of new technologies to improve water quality such as:

• Outreach consultation designed to assist agencies in evaluation of new water treatment technologies seeking introduction to CNMI
• Research designed to identify new landfill technologies for use at the New Landfill site on Saipan and the proposed new site for Guam
• Research designed to find better indicators for bacterial contamination of recreational water in tropical conditions
• Research designed to evaluate various wastewater treatment technologies for higher level treatment of sewage delivered to existing treatment facilities
• Research to examine and evaluate best disposal options for all three main islands in the CNMI. This would include benefit/cost analysis of
  • Off shore disposal
• Conventional treatment and reuse
• Research that would explore the use of direct stormwater and treated waste water injection into the aquifer to improve groundwater quality and reduce saltwater intrusion
• Research that would examine the use of innovative pre-treatment processes to improve the quality of stormwater
• Research that would study the feasibility of subdivision level sewage treatment systems
• Research to develop biomarker capabilities to augment and refine existing bio-indicator studies in CNMI coastal waters

Research aimed at gaining a better understanding of the availability, deliverability and sustainability of CNMI's surface water, groundwater and rainwater resources such as:

• Research to investigate various options of transmission, distribution, and storage of source water for optimal delivery to customers
• Research to explore the impact of new AgAg wells on existing supplies at Donney Springs
• Research which will examine well pumping rates and salinity levels to develop optimized pumping rates and well-field capacities
• Research to develop models of demand, use, and management of water resources on all of the islands in the CNMI
• Research to identify better ways to enforce existing well drilling regulations and develop enforcement procedures for private well drilling and pumping operations
• Research in the area of water use that can be used to update existing master plans
• Research that will assess various strategies for developing 24-hour water in the Saipan water supply system
• Research that will develop water conservation strategies for Rota using a case study approach. This could include development of draft legislation
• Research that will examine the feasibility of catching, treating, and storing large quantities of storm water in drainages such as the Garapan watershed in order to provide flood control and as a source of high quality water for the CUC
• Research that will evaluate the hydrologic impacts of ENSO droughts, typhoons, etc. on ground water levels in major aquifers in Saipan
• Research that will examine existing legislation and funding for construction of catchment systems and rainwater storage tanks and suggest programs to provide incentive for construction of such systems to include:
• Revision to building codes to require tank construction (Similar to that in Virgin Islands)
• Tax incentives and rebates
• Combination with 24/24 task force program
• Research that will make an economic evaluation of how island wide metering, user fees, tax incentives, and rate schedules could affect water use rates in Saipan
• Research that will evaluate the impacts of island wide metering on CUC demands for water production

Education and Professional Training

Projects that lead to the public's better understanding of water resources issues to include water resources training courses and workshops for k-12 students and teachers, the general public and island water resource managers and decision makers such as:

• Water and wastewater system operator training coordinated with GWA in Guam
• Provide training on best management practices for animal and aquiculture wastes
• Provide distance education opportunities for UOG water resources, pre engineering and environmental science courses in Saipan
• Provide new and innovative curriculum on Island water resources topics for use in the public schools
• Farmer education for establishing a wellhead protection or zone of influence protection zone for Tinian water tunnel.
• Western pacific Water Quality Analysis lab conference to discuss common issues such as:
• Centralized testing
• Lab certification
• Purchasing of testing supplies and equipment
• Lab equipment servicing

(To include lab personnel from educational institutions, EPAs and utilities from throughout the region)

• Improve and expand water resources information dissemination
• Undertake targeted public education on water conservation and various other water resources issues
• Initiate programs that would educate elected officials, policy makers and utility board members on water related issues such as sources of water, desalinization, and utility waters supply concerns
• Provide an educational campaign targeting school children on water quality and quantity issues that impact a family's daily life, and water conservation strategies that reduce these impacts
• Provide training to water and waste water systems operators
• Provide brochures on alternative wastewater disposal technologies for rural areas
• Develop a task force organization to address special water resources issues
• Provide training on cost, operation and maintenance of desalinization equipment
• Provide brochures and accompanying workshops various village locations on rainwater catchment system design, construction, materials and water quality considerations. This project could be linked to the existing project WET already active in CNMI.