A lawmaker says that on the main island of the Northern Marianas, Saipan, the water supply system is badly in need of replacement.
Saipan, CNMI Photo: Supplied
Representative Edwin Propst said the deteriorating water pipes have left residents on the southern part of the island without a supply for several days.
He said the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation needed to replace pipes because some of Saipan's ageing water pipes were installed before World War II.
Mr Propst said in addition to leaks the CUC has to address theft, because this was a factor in a loss of 70 percent of the water that was distributed.