BECQ official: Saipan ranks among worst in US for PFAS contamination

06/11/2025—Saipan is now among the most PFAS-contaminated jurisdictions in the United States, according to Travis Robert Spaeth, chief engineer and manager of the Safe Drinking Water Program at the CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality. 

Speaking at the 32nd Pacific Islands Environmental Training Symposium at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan last June 10, Spaeth delivered a stark assessment of Saipan’s PFAS crisis and called for urgent, coordinated action to protect public health.

Saipan’s water system has repeatedly tested positive for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—synthetic chemicals widely used in firefighting foams and industrial products that persist in the environment and are linked to cancer and other serious illnesses. 

Spaeth revealed that four of Saipan’s drinking water entry points are among the 15 worst in the entire country for PFAS contamination. One well near the airport firefighting training grounds once held the top national spot with PFOS levels exceeding 7,000 parts per trillion—more than 1,700 times the EPA’s recently finalized limit of 4 ppt.

“This is one of the most extreme PFAS contamination cases in the U.S.,” Spaeth said, noting that recent readings still show highly elevated levels in dozens of Commonwealth Utilities Corp.-operated wells across Saipan, particularly in Isley, Dandan, and Kannat Tabla.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated PFAS a national drinking water priority, requiring systems to meet the new 4 ppt standard by 2031. But the CNMI already has its own Maximum Contaminant Level, or MCL, set at 70 ppt, and authorities here are working quickly to meet the stricter federal threshold.

To that end, CUC has installed granular activated carbon, or GAC, filtration units at multiple sites, successfully reducing PFAS to undetectable levels in the short term. However, Spaeth warned that GAC filters are costly to maintain, ship off-island for disposal, and require frequent replacement. “Our long-term challenge is maintaining this system while funding the expansion,” he said.

Testing alone poses a serious financial burden—shipping, lab analysis, and technician support could cost more than $5 million annually, Spaeth estimated.

The contamination is believed to stem largely from historical use of firefighting foams at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. With 69 of 73 CUC wells on the island testing positive for PFAS, the spread of the chemical into the island’s aquifer appears extensive and difficult to reverse.

PFAS exposure has been linked to immune system suppression, thyroid problems, kidney and liver damage, and increased cancer risk. The chemicals have been detected in blood samples of nearly every American.

Spaeth noted that the U.S. military and Federal Aviation Administration—both with historical links to the use of PFAS—could become key partners in funding long-term cleanup and medical response. Blood testing for exposed residents and first responders is being considered but has not yet been implemented due to cost constraints.

In addition to expanding GAC filtration, other options discussed by Spaeth include:

• Rainwater catchment systems for homes

• Desalination as a future backup, though energy-intensive

• Regional PFAS labs to reduce testing costs and turnaround times

• Aquifer remediation, still in early exploratory stages

“We can’t afford to be passive,” Spaeth told attendees. “This is a community-wide issue and one of the biggest environmental challenges the CNMI has ever faced.”

The four-day symposium, which gathered environmental regulators from across the Pacific, continues through the end of the week with sessions on drinking water security, hazardous waste management, and climate resiliency.

The CNMI’s Safe Drinking Water Program urges residents to stay informed and follow any water advisories issued by BECQ or CUC. 

In an earlier presentation hosted by Northern Marianas College's Environmental and Natural Resources Organization, Spaeth simply advised Saipan residents, especially those living in the south, to not drink from the tap.

Story by Mark Rabago