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.
This report describes the design, installation, and testing of a solar photovoltaic pumping system on the atoll island of Pis-Moen in Truk State, Federated States of Micronesia. The system uses twelve 30-watt photovoltaic modules connected directly to a centrifugal pump. The pump draws groundwater from a horizontal well consisting of a length if perforated, screened PVC pipe, 20 ft long. During a noon test at full sun, at 5 ft head, the pump delivered approximately 18 gpm. One major problem was encountered during the installation. This was the occurrence of reef rock at the water table at the first site selected. A second site proved to be satisfactory. Test holes should always be dug prior to siting wells on atoll islands.
