| Project Scope:
The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA),
a quasi-public utility agency, is responsible for the
management, operation, and maintenance of American Samoa’s
water, wastewater, power and solid waste systems. ASPA’s
approach to utility management approach is well-recognized in
the Pacific Basin; it is regularly consulted by other utilities
in the region for solutions to system management and day-to-day
operations.
ASPA retained Pedersen Planning
Consultants (PPC) to assist this regional utility with an update
to its earlier Utilities Master Plan that PPC and Hart Pacific
Engineering prepared in 1995. The update initially included
PPC’s re-evaluation of regional population, land use, and
economic trends in American Samoa. Earlier detailed forecasts
of population and land use were modified for 72 villages and
smaller communities.
Using a statistical model
developed by PPC, population and land use forecasts were
subsequently applied to water consumption and domestic
wastewater generation rates to determine anticipated average
daily consumption and wastewater generation for five time
increments over a 20-year planning period. The determination of
water consumption rates involved a detailed review and
aggregation of water meter record data, as well as a correlation
of preliminary consumption rates with other Pacific Island
communities. It also included an assessment of the potential
opportunities associated with water conservation and the
calculation of potential water savings.
The second task of the project
involved an evaluation of selected public health and
environmental issues, e.g., groundwater and nearshore marine
water quality. Particular attention was given to more recent
changes in the U.S. Clean Water Act and related regulations of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These changes were
evaluated in the context of implications to future utility
management.
The Utilities Master Plan update
gave greater attention to future water and wastewater system
manage-ment and related water resource management. PPC
evaluated the existing rate structure and made recommendations
concerning the approach to the adjustment of future water and
wastewater rates. Recommendations concerning future information
management were provided in light of available technologies
associated with geographical information systems, maintenance
management, and inventory control.
Water resource management
recommendations addressed the sustainability of future water
production. General criteria and standards were recommended for
future groundwater exploration and well development. New
recommendations were also provided for the establishment of a
water conservation program on the Island of Tutuila.
A new aspect of the Utilities
Master Plan involved the recommendation of a process for future
system planning for the ASPA Water and Wastewater Divisions.
System planning recommendations identified the need for both
medium-term and annual system plans. A recommended planning
process identified the scope of annual and short-term planning
efforts, specific responsibilities for each aspect of system
planning, and related coordination within the utility. |
