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ASPA begins drought condition protocol

The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) has started its drought condition protocol says ASPA Chief Executive Officer Utu Abe Malae, as the weather bureau has reported that October is turning out to be the third month in a row with rainfall far below normal. Utu told Samoa News that ASPA implements its "drought condition" protocol when the rainfall drops to three inches a month for three months in a row, as measured at the airport.

 

Utu said the drought condition protocol “calls for a reduction in system water pressures.” He explained that variable frequency drive motors are being installed in various locations as new wells have been drilled and others abandoned.

 

“The NRW (non revenue water) leak detection and repair project continues unabated and is bringing positive results. Workers are installing inline meters and unearthing buried customer meters in an all out attempt to locate,"lost water”,” he noted.

 

He urged the public to please report all leaks to ASPA at 699-1234. Utu told Samoa News that ASPA wants to avoid shutting down the canneries for lack of water, which happened during the droughts of 1974 and 1983. 

 

“The worst one since records were kept occurred in 1998— but because the Drought Protocol was in place, there was no need to shut down the two canneries,” he told Samoa News.

 

“When the canneries shut down in 1974 and 1983, reduced hours and furloughs occurred in the private sector as well as the government. The American Samoa economy suffered a recession during those years.”

 

According to the weather bureau there is an “El Nino-Southern Oscillation"status at this time, and it remains neutral with a continuing projection of an El Nino condition. Models reveal that drier conditions will continue into the month of November. Some models are leaning toward bringing hope of rainfall during the month of December.

 

The weather bureau says that the weather forecast as of yesterday is, mostly cloudy for Monday through Wednesday with isolated showers.