💧 Water and Power · St. Croix, VI
WAPA outlined St. Croix water response in virtual town hall
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority said it held a virtual town hall on December 20, 2023, for St. Croix business owners and nonprofit organizations to provide updates on its response to lead and copper findings and discolored water in some areas of the island.
According to WAPA, initial September testing found lead at 36 sites, and follow-up sampling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in November showed substantially lower levels than first reported.
WAPA Water Systems Director Don Gregoire said 52,500 water vouchers had been distributed to 2,625 customers in affected areas on St. Croix. He said eligible customers who had used WAPA water during the previous six months would begin receiving a $75 bill credit on January 5, 2024, and that pitcher and faucet filters funded through the Department of Planning and Natural Resources' Clean Water Drinking Fund were scheduled for distribution in January 2024.
WAPA said lead-free parts had been installed in 15 of the 36 affected areas and that the remaining work was scheduled for completion in January 2024. The utility also said it was continuing daily pipe flushing, hydrant installation and replacement of brass fixtures in service lines.
Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean P. Oriol said historical data showed the St. Croix water system did not have a lead and copper problem that threatened residents' safety overall, but said islandwide tap-water testing was being launched as a precaution. WAPA said the free testing program was set to begin on December 23, 2023, with 80 locations to be selected across St. Croix.
Department of Health epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis said 1,270 children ages 0 to 6 had been tested for lead. She said two children tested positive for lead and three tested positive for copper, though the source of the lead exposure had not been confirmed. Ellis also said the department was awaiting results for 50 additional tests from off-island laboratories.
WAPA Chief Operating Officer for Water Noel Hodge said the utility would increase testing frequency and was reviewing recommendations from water-quality experts on reducing corrosion in underground pipes and fixtures. WAPA said its corrosion-control program was expected to show results within six months.
The authority said another community town hall was planned for January 2024.