A proposed Senate bill calls for establishing a Water Security Task Force to address water security in Palau and ensure access to clean, potable water for the nation’s residents.
Senate Bill 12-15, which passed on its first reading, seeks to include the Water Security Task Force in the Palau National Code.
“The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that many communities within the Republic of Palau do not have access to clean drinking water,” the bill stated.
The bill requires Palau Public Utilities Corporation ( PPUC) to provide clean water as it is their duty.
The bill also called on PPUC to lend its technical expertise to assist households without access to piped water in setting up and maintaining alternative water systems.
The task force which will be led by PPUC, will be formulating an action plan to provide potable water to the residents.
It will also be tasked to explore alternative ways to provide potable drinking water through desalination technology, atmospheric water generation technology, subsidized silver nitrate tablets for remotely located residents, among others.
Under the bill, residents without clean water can file a consumer protection action against PPUC.
Meanwhile, PPUC has written congressmen of both houses seeking to amend the law, allowing them to increase rates to pay for the cost of water and wastewater operations and pay for water improvement costs.
PPUC reported a loss of millions for the operation of water and wastewater. What it collects for water and wastewater operations falls short of around 4 million dollars annually and has accumulated over 34 million.
Currently, based on the court’s Temporary Restraining Order, PPUC can charge the new water and wastewater tariff, but it can’t cut off the service for nonpayment until the legal dispute between the OEK and PPUC on the new tariff is resolved. (By: Bernadette Carreon)