Republic of Palau Water Treatment Plants – Preliminary Assessment U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Office of Insular Affairs Document Total Cost(s) $88,000 July 2020 Mission Statements The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper. The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carries out the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior in coordinating Federal policy for the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. OIA is also responsible for administering and overseeing U.S. Federal assistance to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association, as well as providing technical and financial assistance to all the Insular Areas. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Republic of Palau Water Treatment Plants – Preliminary Assessment prepared for Republic of Palau Palau Public Utilities Corporation prepared by Bureau of Reclamation Technical Service Center funded by U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs Cover Photograph: The Ngatpang Mechebechubel Water Treatment Plant. (Reclamation/Mike Kramer) U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Office of Insular Affairs Document Total Cost(s) $88,000 Preliminary Assessment Acknowledgments This report was made possible with funding support provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs as a part of the initiative to support water quality projects in the freely associated states, as announced by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt at the Pacific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue at Tuvalu in August 2019. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) acknowledges the outstanding level of collaboration and support provided by staff at the Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC). Reclamation team members received valuable information and insight from briefings by senior managers David Dengokl, Water Operations Manager; Gregorio Decherong, Chairman of the Board; and Anthony Rudimch, Project Planning and Implementation Manager. Particularly notable were the contributions of Marson Aderiano, Outlying States Water Operations Supervisor; and David Bai, Environmental Safeguards Officer; whom coordinated and accompanied the Reclamation team with all site visit activities, and promptly responded to all requests for data and documentation needed for this report. Acknowledgments photograph of Reclamation team and PPUC staff (from left to right): Anthony Rudimch (PPUC), Jeff Morris (Reclamation), Mike Kramer (Reclamation), Gregorio Decherong (PPUC), Scott Irvine (Reclamation), David Bai (PPUC), and Marson Aderiano (PPUC). iii Preliminary Assessment Table of Contents page Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 3 Plant Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 5 Site Visit Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 5 February 10, 2020 ...................................................................................................................................... 5 February 11, 2020 ...................................................................................................................................... 5 February 11, 2020 (Continued) ................................................................................................................ 7 February 12, 2020 ...................................................................................................................................... 7 February 13, 2020 ...................................................................................................................................... 7 February 14, 2020 ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Direct Filtration Plants .................................................................................................................................. 7 Water Sources and Intake Systems ......................................................................................................... 8 Water Treatment Process ......................................................................................................................... 8 Airai Plant ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Airai Water Sources ................................................................................................................................. 17 Airai Water Treatment Process ............................................................................................................. 17 Operations and Maintenance ................................................................................................................. 22 Peleliu Plant .................................................................................................................................................. 23 Peleliu Water Treatment Process .......................................................................................................... 23 Operations and Maintenance ................................................................................................................. 23 Conclusions and Recommendations ....................................................................................... 27 Water Quality Monitoring .......................................................................................................................... 27 General Recommendation No. 1 .......................................................................................................... 28 General Recommendation No. 2 .......................................................................................................... 29 Water Supply During Drought Conditions .............................................................................................. 29 General Recommendation No. 3. ......................................................................................................... 29 Appraisal Evaluation and Report .............................................................................................................. 29 General Recommendation No. 4. ......................................................................................................... 29 Airai Plant ..................................................................................................................................................... 29 Airai Recommendation No. 1 ................................................................................................................ 30 Airai Recommendation No. 2 ................................................................................................................ 31 Direct Filtration Plants ................................................................................................................................ 31 Direct Filtration Recommendation No. 1............................................................................................ 31 Direct Filtration Recommendation No. 2............................................................................................ 32 v Republic of Palau Water Treatment Plants Direct Filtration Recommendation No. 3............................................................................................ 32 Direct Filtration Recommendation No. 4............................................................................................ 32 Peleliu Plant .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Peleliu Recommendation No. 1 ............................................................................................................ 34 Peleliu Recommendation No. 2 ............................................................................................................ 34 Appendix A ............................................................................................................................ A-1 Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB) Monthly Water Quality Results ...................... A-3 Appendix B ............................................................................................................................ B-1 Environmental Quality Protection