18 Jun 2015

Water on Pacific Environment Conference agenda

7:56 am on 18 June 2015

Finding ways to ensure Pacific people have access to safe drinking water is at the top of the agenda at this year's Pacific Islands Environment Conference.

water flowing from tap

Photo: AFP

About 60 delegates from Hawaii, Northern Marianas, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Palau and Marshall Islands have gathered in American Samoa for the conference.

Green energy investors, businesses, academics and scientists are also participating.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency administrator to the Pacific, Jared Blumenfeld, says making sure all American Samoan people have access to clean water is a priority.

"The communities in American Samoa stand out nationally when we look at reports and send reports to congress, American Samoa is still at the top of the list. So my top priority in American Samoa is getting ASPA [American Samoa Power Authority] and all the other agencies to provide the water that doesn't need to be boiled.

The USEPA administrator to the Pacific, Jared Blumenfeld.

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