Breaking

Based on the restoration work completed since Hurricane Maria impacted the territory a week ago, WAPA estimates St. Thomas has experienced about 15% restoration while St. Croix has seen restoration totals of approximately 10%. St. Croix has about 4 megawatts of electricity presently on the electric grid while St. Thomas has about 10 megawatts. The restoration totals are based on present generation loads versus pre-storm load totals.
WAPA crews and on-island contractors began staging new utility poles at strategic locations across St. Thomas Friday. The utility poles are part of an initial shipment of additional supplies needed to rebuild the transmission and distribution system. Convoys are being deployed from the cruise ship dock in Havensight, destined for the west end, north side and east end areas. WAPA is requesting the cooperation of the motoring public during this undertaking—please yield the right of way to the wide-load trucks as they transport and position the poles. This operation will continue through the weekend.
While line department crews and contractors are working primarily on the “A” feeders in St. Thomas, work is also ongoing to energize WAPA’s electrical substations in Donoe, Tutu and the east end. Energizing the substations will bring service to Red Hook, affording WAPA the ability to test the undersea cables to St. John. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, WAPA should begin to energize portions of Cruz Bay within the next 10-14 days.
After several days of reconstruction work, WAPA expects to energize both the Alexander Farrelly Justice Center and the Ron de Lugo Federal Building this weekend. This will bring service to the U.S. District Court, V.I. Superior Court, Bureau of Corrections and the V.I. Police Department’s Callwood Command. Crews planted poles on the paths of Feeders 6A and 10B, with work expected to commence on Feeders 7A and 8A in the days ahead.
All underground portions of St. Croix Feeder 1A have been energized. Crews planted the first of seven poles needed to energize a portion of Feeder 6A. Additional poles were planted along the route of Feeder 8B toward Frederiksted town. In addition, clean-up crews worked in several areas on St. Croix on Friday.
St. John crews continue to work in the Cruz Bay area planting new poles from the roundabout toward the Myrah Keating Smith Health Clinic.
Emergency call centers on St. Thomas & St. Croix will operate on a 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. schedule. The call centers are the primary means by which customers can advise the Authority of isolated service interruptions once crews have carried out restoration work. The call center operating hours will be adjusted as restoration into neighborhoods and communities takes shape. To contact the Emergency Call Center on St. Croix, call 340-773-0150, and on St. Thomas – St. John the call center’s telephone number is 340-774-1424.
WAPA continues to work jointly with Viya, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, and the Department of Public Works on a clean-up initiative across the territory.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

There are five days of emergency water storage in St. John. Water service is available throughout the Cruz Bay area.
There are four days of emergency water storage or about 11 million gallons on St. Thomas. Potable water service to the Hospital Ground area will be restored this weekend. Customers in Savan, Altona and at Contant Knolls will have their service restored when other pump stations are re-energized.
Storage at the Richmond tank has increased to a four-day water supply or 8.9 million gallons. Water service continues to make its way slowly to Frederiksted, as the system becomes pressurized. WAPA is in the process of bringing a second pump on line at the Contentment Pump Station. This will also aid in getting water service to the island’s west end.