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.
The concentration of most pollutants in urban runoff percolating through lysimeter columns containing Guam soil and limestone were substantially reduced. This reduction by absorption and/or filtration occurred after percolation through ¾ meter of substrata. Pollutants showing a 70% or greater reduction in concentration included total and fecal coliform bacteria, orthophosphorous, and total phosphorous. Compared to limestone, soils generally showed greater removal of MBAS and oil/grease. The mean removal rate of MBAS for soils averaged 68%. Mariana limestone was particularly permeable to MBAS, generally removing less than 30%.
