Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

American Samoa environmental group say difficult to rectify water issue

Posted at 03:15 on 09 December, 2009 UTC

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency or EPA says it’s a difficult task trying to stop residents from illegally mixing clean village water with untreated water.

In October the Agency issued a precautionary notice to boil drinking water as it discovered at least half a dozen households in a few villages were cross connecting water supplied by the American Samoa Power Authority with an untreated source.

Lieutenant Elena Vaouli of the EPA says a few households have used pipes to draw water from both treated and untreated water systems to get free water.

“There have been repeat offenders which is a problem. And I think the cross connection issue is going to be a difficult one to get under control. So we’re trying to do the best we can to commit enough resources to this problem to try to rectify the situation as fast as we can.”

Elena Vaouli says the EPA is now considering penalising people who are caught out.