Mapp Secures Funds For Sewer Line Repairs In St. Thomas And St. Croix

ST. THOMAS — Governor Kenneth Mapp late Sunday announced via press release that his administration has secured funding to make repairs to sewer lines in St. Croix and St. Thomas.

According to the release, a total of $750,000 in capital funds — monies gained through the floating of bonds — will be used to make sewer line upgrades to address concerns in Christiansted on Company Street and near Metro Motors on St. Thomas, replacing aged sewer lines and manhole infrastructures in both areas.

Steve Aubin, interim executive director of Virgin Island Waste Management Authority (W.M.A.), provided details for the projects in both districts.

On St. Croix, W.M.A, in partnership with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, will be replacing deteriorated sewer lines, manholes, and appurtenances located on Company Street in Christiansted. Sewer infrastructure within the Christiansted town is over 40 years old and prone to blockages, and are inundated by storm water during rain events which results in sewage overflows into the streets and the environment, according to the release.

Sewer lines within the work zone of the W.A.P.A. portable water line replacement project became compromised during the excavation work. To minimize future disruptions in traffic and activity on Company Street, Mr. Mapp secured capital funds for W.M.A. to expedite replacement of the sewer lines and related infrastructure concurrent with the ongoing W.A.P.A. project.

The upgrades and repairs to the sewer system on Company Street will yield several benefits including reduction in frequency of sewer blockages and overflows, elimination of storm and ground water infiltration, and increased efficiency of operation including reduced energy consumption within the system, Government House says.

On St. Thomas, W.M.A. will be replacing approximately 550 feet of 8-inch diameter sewer line and repairing related manholes along two sewer interceptors within Estate Anna’s Retreat in the vicinity of the Gomez Elementary School, Metro Motors and Four Winds Plaza. Sewer infrastructure within Anna’s Retreat and Tutu is over 50 years old and prone to blockages and inundation by storm water during rain events, which results in sewage overflows into the streets and the surrounding area, according to the release.

A portion of each interceptor was found to be damaged or collapsed causing frequent overflows, impact to the surrounding properties, and causing reduced efficiency of operations. Mr. Mapp secured capital funds for W.M.A. to expedite emergency replacement of the sewer lines and related infrastructure. The work will not cause any major disruptions to traffic as most of the work is off-street, according to the release.

Government House days the upgrades and repairs to the interceptors will yield several benefits including mitigation of the pending pipe failure, reduction in frequency of sewer blockages and overflows, elimination of storm and ground water infiltration, and increased efficiency of operation, including reduced energy consumption within the system.