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.
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Shahram KhosrowPanah Ph.D., P.E. Professor of Water Resources Engineering Phone: 671-735-2694 (fax 734-8890) (GMT+10 hrs) khosrow(weri)uguam.uog.edu?subject=Faculty - WeriGuam.org |
Prediction of Flow Duration Curves for Use in Hydropower Analysis at Ungaged Sites in Pohnpei, FSM.
The cost and availability of energy resources is one key factor in the economic development and quality of life in any developing country. This is especially true in the Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), where nearly all of the energy produced is from costly, non-renewable, and potentially environmentally damaging fossil fuel (oil) resources. This project has developed a means of predicting flow duration curves at ungaged sites in Pohnpei. All of the major streams of the island were divided into stream reaches, or homogenous sections of a stream, that have similar flow properties. These reaches were identified on maps developed from the detailed Geographic Information System (GIS) map inventory of Pohnpei. Various statistical and analytical methods were applied to the existing streamflow data and physical characteristics of the reaches in order to predict the streamflow in each stream reach. The final results are a series of maps of the streams of Pohnpei with each stream reach and proposed site identified. The maps are available for use in the free GIS program ARC Explorer. The user will be able to find the average flow for each stream reach and proposed hydro site. An Excel application was also developed to perform a preliminary power production and economic analysis for any new proposed site based on the average flow information and the statistical flow duration data developed in the project. (Funding source: US Geological Survey).
Development of Optimal Operation of the Saipan’s Water Distribution System using new Developed Hydraulic Model
The skeleton model of the Saipan water distribution system that has been developed by WERI was updated. It reflects all new development that has been in place since 2006 when the model was developed. The water production from wells that has been renovated since 2009 has been inputted into the model. This will help CUC to transfer water among the regions that are in water shortage. As the results, presently 60 percent of the customers are on 24-hours water. Currently CUC is in process of installing new smart meters throughout the system. This will help the researchers to develop water use patterns for various customers such as households, hotels, schools, laundries, and water bottling companies. This information will help to calibrate the system and then CUC can explore various scenarios of system operation. This will help the CNMI government reach its goal of providing 24-hour water to all residents served by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) water system. We are in process of developing a GIS data base for CUC water distribution system. The data base will include the description of each component of the CUC water system and system inventory. This will help streamline the operation of the CUC water distribution system.
