Our water system recently detected fecal indicator (E. coli) bacteria in well Y-09, which serves the Barrigada, Latte Heights, Mongmong-Toto-Maite, Mangilao, Route 15, and Yigo areas. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. On August 18, 2026, we collected a sample from well Y-09. The raw water sample tested positive for E. coli. The treated water in the distribution system is negative for E. coli.

• DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for three (3) minutes, and let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

• Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short term health effects such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

• The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers about drinking this water.

GWA collected five additional samples from the source. The system was flushed, and chlorine levels and pressures have been confirmed to be within acceptable levels in the distribution system. We will inform you when tests show no E. coli in the raw water samples for Y-09 and you no longer need to boil your water. We anticipate resolving the problem within 24-48 hours.

For more information, please contact GWA Dispatch at 671-646-4211 or Suite 200, 688 Rt. 15, Mangilao GU 96913-6203. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. 

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by GWA Northern System, State Water System

ID#:  GU0000006.

Date distributed: __08/20/2026___