You have entered the website of the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific (WERI) at the University of Guam. We are currently six faculty and five staff and our mission is to seek solutions through research, teaching and outreach programs, to issues and problems associated with the location, production, distribution and management of freshwater resources in Guam, the CNMI and the FSM.
No abstract was published. A summary of the Introduction and Results follows.
Traditional methods of water supply in Truk State often do not provide water of adequate quality or sufficient quantity. The result is an inconvenience for the local people compounded by increased consumption of water of low quality. During 1982, a cholera epidemic swept Truk State, emphasizing the need for safe, potable water supplies. As a result, funds became available from the U.S.A to assist with the following projects:
This report describes portions of the third project, construction of shallow wells powered by photovoltaic cells.
Wells were sited based on the following criteria:
The wells are designed to operate during peak daylight hours (9 am to 3 pm, approximately). The only maintenance required is rinsing the surface of the solar panels. Twenty wells were installed and, as of the writing of this report, were functioning according to design specifications. Over 100 wells are planned for Truk. Serious consideration should be given to other islands based on the success of this project, following a groundwater assessment, of course. More information is available in WERI Technical Report No. 49 by Winters and Watters, 1984.
