Puipui ma fa'asao le si'osi'omaga • Preserve and protect the environment
Safe Drinking Water
The Safe Drinking Water Branch is committed to protecting the quality of groundwater in American Samoa. To achieve this goal and ensure the safety of the public drinking water supply, the branch regulates local drinking water suppliers, including the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA), purified water bottling companies, and water vending machines. The branch aims to maintain AS-EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act component primacy status from USEPA, improve public water system compliance, and educate and promote for groundwater protection measures to assure safe drinking water for future generations.
Water Vending Machines
Vending Machines are sampled on a monthly basis and tested for the presence of coliform bacteria. The AS-EPA does not guarantee the purity of the water that is vended from these machines. The owners and operators of the vending machines are responsible for the cleanliness and functionality of these machines.
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Public Water System
A Public Water System includes any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under the control of an operator. The AS-EPA conducts sampling for ASPA water systems, and samples are collected on a monthly basis. These systems are divided into: Central (largest system), Satellites (Fagasa, Aoa, Afono, Masefau, Masausi, Sailele and Vatia), Manu'a (Fitiuta, Tau, Ofu - Olosega) and Aunu'u.
Village Water System
The AS-EPA monitors the Village Water Systems or vai o le nu'u for the presence of bacteria. Village water must be boiled before use for domestic purposes since bacteria has historically and continues to be detected in village water. Boil Village Water Advisory (Lapata'iga Mo le Fa'apupunaina o le Vai o le Nu'u) signage is posted in the following villages with operational systems: Afono, Amouli, Auasi, Fagali'i, Fagamalo, Masausi, Onenoa, Pago Pago, Poloa and Vatia. This advisory is to remind the villages that the presence of bacteria in drinking water may pose a potential health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
