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Water: Planning

FY 2012 NWPG Pacific Islands Measure Definitions

Measure Code: PI-SP26

Measure Language: Percent of population in the U.S. Pacific Island Territories served by community water systems that has access to continuous drinking water meeting all applicable health-based drinking water standards, measured on a four quarter rolling average basis.

Type of Measure: Target measure; Annually reported

Measure Contact: Michael Mann, EPA Region 9, Pacific Islands Office

mann.michael@epa.gov | (415) 972-3505 Measure Definition Terms and phrases:

o    U.S. Pacific territories consist of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

o    A community water system is a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.

Methodology for computation of results: Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) data from the three territories (noting violations) is multiplied by the percentage of the population in each territory with 24-hour access to drinking water (currently 100% in Guam and American Samoa, 65% in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).  The total is reported as a 1-year rolling average.

Units: Millions of pounds per year. Units: Percent of population

Universe: Total population of the U.S. Pacific territories (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa)

Baseline: The FY 2005 baseline is 95% of the population in American Samoa, 10% in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 80% in Guam served by community water systems received drinking water that meets all applicable health-based drinking water standards throughout the year.


Measure Code: PI-SP27

Measure Language: Percentage of time that sewage treatment plants in the U.S. Pacific Island Territories comply with permit limits for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS).

Type of Measure: Target measure; Annually reported

Measure Contact: Michael Mann, EPA Region 9, Pacific Islands Office

mann.michael@epa.gov | (415) 972-3505

Measure Definition

Terms and phrases:

o    U.S. Pacific territories consist of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

o    Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed in the biological processes that break down organic matter in water. The greater the BOD, the greater the degree of pollution.

o    Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are a measure of the suspended solids in wastewater, effluent, or water bodies, determined by tests for "total suspended non-filterable solids."

Methodology for computation of results: The wastewater compliance measure is a sum of the number of compliant months for all sewage treatment plants (STPs) for all Pacific Islands for that quarter divided by the number of possible compliant months for all STPs for all islands.  American Samoa has 2 STPs, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has 2 STPs, and Guam has 4 STPs, so the total number of possible compliant months (i.e., the denominator) for all STPs for the Pacific Islands is 24 (8 STPs times 3 months per quarter).  If there is a violation for either BOD or TSS limits, the facility is not in compliance for that particular month.  Otherwise, the facility is assumed to be in compliance.  Facilities are assumed to be in compliance even when no data are reported for that time period.

Units: Percent of time

Universe: 24 – total of 8 treatment plants in the U.S. Pacific territories (Guam, CNMI, American Samoa) times 3 months per quarter

Baseline: The sewage treatment plants in the Pacific Island Territories complied 59% (FY 2005) of the time with the BOD and TSS permit limits.


PI-SP28

Measure Code: PI-SP28

Measure Language: Percent of days of the beach season that beaches in each of the U.S. Pacific Island Territories monitored under the Beach Safety Program will be open and safe for swimming.

Type of Measure:  Target measure; Annually reported

Measure Contact: Michael Mann, EPA Region 9, Pacific Islands Office

mann.michael@epa.gov | (415) 972-3505

Measure Definition

Terms and phrases:

o    U.S. Pacific territories consist of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

o    Beach season days are calculated to get a better sense of the extent of beach notification action information. The number of days all beaches are open (based on the length of the local beach season) are added up and multiplied by the number of beaches.

Methodology for computation of results: The beach measure is the number of "open and safe" beach days for all Pacific Islands for that quarter divided by the number of total possible beach days for all Pacific Islands for that quarter.

Units: Percent of days

Universe: In a Fiscal Year, there are 92 days in the 1st quarter (Oct- Dec), 90 days in the 2nd quarter (Jan-Mar), 91 days in the 3rd quarter (Apr-Jun) and 92 days in the 4th quarter (Jul-Sep).

Baseline: Beaches were open and safe 64% of the 365-day beach season in American Samoa, 97% in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 76% in Guam (FY 2005).

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