Guam's Critical Fresh Water Resources Research and Training Needs
Identified at Previous Advisory meetings
Updated at October 4, 2005 Meeting

Ground, Surface, and Coastal Water Quality

Impact Issues

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 Guam's fresh water quality such as:

• Impact of the projected expansion of military infrastructure on the water supply and waste water disposal systems of the island
• Impact of past use of banned pesticides and organic substances on surface and groundwater
• Impact of agricultural activities, septic tanks and leach fields on ground and surface water resources of Guam
• Impact of storm water runoff and ponding basins on groundwater quality
• Impact of sewer outfalls on the quality of streams and the near shore environment
• Impact of Ordot Dump on water quality of the Lonfit River Basin
• Impact of groundwater and storm water runoff on the environmental health of Tumon Bay and the health of those using the bay for recreational activities
• Impacts of overflows of sewer system on the quality of ground and surface water supplies
• Impacts of other organisms in sewage that have longer survivability than the coliforms that we now test for in water
• Impact of existing and proposed future pumping rates on chloride levels in the aquifer
• Impacts and sources of volatile hydrocarbons on the development of existing and new groundwater resources
• Impacts of free living fecal indicator bacteria from non-fecal sources on the reliability of existing recreational water quality standards
• Economic impacts of addressing water quality concerns
• Impacts of the infiltration of high salinity groundwater into the sewage collection system on the operation of the local sewage treatment plants
• Impact of the Baza Gardens STP on the nutrient loading of the Togcha River and the proliferation of algal blooms in Togcha Bay
  

Baseline data issues

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 Guam's fresh water resource such as:

• Baseline studies to determine natural background fluorescence in groundwater and groundwater discharge points

• Baseline studies on effect of effluent discharging from Ordot dump on the Pago Bay river system and estuary for use as a basis of evaluating the required capping and closing of the dump
• Baseline studies on ground and surface water quality and aqueous ecology in watershed and coastal zone surrounding proposed new landfill sites
• Baseline studies to help identify the location and levels of key contaminants and the processes that might explain their presence
• Baseline studies to establish background values of PCBs, pesticides, and heavy metals in estuaries and fresh waters island wide

Modeling Issues

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

• Modeling surface water contamination from non point pollution sources such as erosion
• Spatial and temporal modeling of changes in wetlands and badlands in South Guam Watersheds
• Development of a three dimensional groundwater flow model for the Yigo-Tumon trough aquifer for use in water quality studies
• Identification and mapping the sources, locations, movement, and fate of groundwater contaminants under northern Guam
• Identify and quantify natural purification mechanisms at work in the Northern Guam Aquifer system

Regulatory Issues

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

• Impact of New USEPA Ground Water Regulations on the operation of the GWA groundwater system
• Development of regulation strategies to best meet the requirements in USEPA's rules on groundwater under the influence of surface water
• Examine the effectiveness and appropriateness of existing erosion control regulations for the reduction of soil erosion and are these regulations being followed
• Are existing regulations concerning water retailers, water vending machines, and from bottled water sources are adequate are they being applied in a manner that guarantees the public health of those using these sources
• Evaluate the effectiveness of regulations on animal and aquaculture waste disposal in reducing the impact of these practice of Guam's surface and groundwater resources
• Evaluate effectiveness of regulations to control the use of unregistered pesticides currently being used on Guam
• Impacts of non-regulated land development over the Northern Guam Aquifer

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

• Develop water budgets for Guam's surface and groundwater watersheds.
• Investigate the feasibility of using runoff that comes into Harmon Sink as a water source that could be stored and treated for use in the potable water supply
• Investigate the application of direct rainwater catchment as a supplement to utility supplied water, for public schools this could include use of simple filtration systems, to economically improve water quality and/or the use of split systems where rain water would be used only for non potable uses
• Explore the feasibility of developing a separate surface water supply system for agricultural use in South Guam
• Research legal and environmental issues of stream flow depletion resulting from impoundments and surface water diversions
• Study the impact of urbanization and ponding basin construction on groundwater quantity
• Develop updated rainfall depth-duration-intensity-frequency relationships along with the areal distribution of rainfall.
• Develop a three dimensional groundwater flow model for the Yigo-Tumon trough aquifer for use in water quantity studies
• Continue studies to determine the response of the Northern Guam Lens to various rainfall events
• Re-evaluation of the North Guam Aquifer sustainable development estimates
• Develop a hydraulic model and a GIS based utility resource management system for GWA's water supply and wastewater systems
• Quantification and spatial distribution of surface water supplies in Southern Guam
• Evaluate the impacts of land development on streamflow, runoff and erosion potential
• Investigate long term rain fall variability in Guam
• Determine the impact of very large rainfall events on Guam eg. flooding, erosion, etc.
• Identify the location of and quantify losses in GWA distribution system
• Identify possible surface water storage sites in South Guam and provide preliminary environmental impact assessments of these sites

Watershed Baseline and Management Issues

Watershed based research to determine best management practices for reduction in contamination in surface runoff and to provide information on Guam's surface water sources and the required legislative framework required to protect these resources such as:

• Development of a watershed atlas for south Guam Watersheds
• Evaluate the accuracy and enforceability of Guam's Existing Flood Plain maps
• Undertake comprehensive watershed studies integrating hydrology, sedimentology, and aquatic ecology
• Undertake dye-trace, flow path mapping, and water chemistry studies related to runoff from Marine Drive, the International Airport, Tiyan, and the Harmon Industrial Park
• Dye trace study to determine where waters exiting from the lower loosing portions of the Choat River reappear as surface or estuarine water
• Continue studies to provide more reliable information on sediment sources under varying watershed conditions
• Investigations to determine the adequacy of Guam's existing laws dealing with water rights regarding the provision of economical and expeditious development of Guam's water supply
• Develop erosion control and rehabilitation plans for South Guam watersheds using risk assessment methods
• Explore sources of sedimentation problems in Fena Reservoir
• Determine the impact of sedimentation processes on the biota of streams and the near shore marine environment
• Develop appropriate management strategies to protect and improve the quality of water supplied to the Ugum water treatment facility

Training and Education projects that lead to the public's better understanding of water resources issues to include:

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

• Develop training modules and templates for the development of community based watershed management programs
• Develop teacher training courses in water resources related subjects
• Develop K-12 education projects on island water resources
• Develop various water resources oriented GIS applications that would be useful to agency officials and others that could be made available to the general public
• Develop community water resources awareness and education projects
• Develop water and waste water system operator's certification training
• Develop programs to provide general education of the public on how to provide safe drinking water in their homes
• Develop workshops on sediment control at construction sites
• Develop public education programs on the costs of water quality
• Develop general public training in water resources issues especially in getting technical matters into a language the general public can understand
• Develop advanced courses in hydrology, hydraulics and water system modeling for engineers at GWA and Guam EPA
• Promote water related intern programs for environmental science students in Gov Guam agencies
• Outreach programs to educate citizens without access to computers or the World Wide Web.
• Executive training on water resources issues for Legislators and Gov Guam senior management officials