Breaking

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, even as it seeks over $20 million in FEMA disaster dollars to commence a major power restoration effort in the territory, continues to work daily in restoring power to residents. Below, find the semiautonomous entity’s latest update.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM

Restoration crews worked Tuesday on St. Croix at locations including: Hannah’s Rest, Frederiksted Town, LBJ housing community, Golden Rock and Mount Pellier. Additionally, crews prepared poles with hardware and equipment in final preparation for restoring service by this weekend to a portion of Feeder 6A from the Richmond Power Plant to Five Corners. Work also continues in Frederiksted on Feeder 8B.
On St. Thomas, restoration crews continued work to energize a portion of Feeder 6A from the Harley Power Plant to the UVI campus. Work also continues to restore electrical service to Gladys Abraham school in Lindbergh Bay. Other areas targeted for restoration include portions of Feeders 8B and 7B. Sections of Bergs Home, Hospital Ground and Sugar Estate were energized over the last few days. Work also continued on a portion of Feeder 8A to restore both the Banco Popular and Scotia Bank’s branches in Altona as well as Calvary Baptist Elementary School and the Ulla Muller Elementary School.
On St. John, crews continued work in the Cruz Bay area planting new poles from Starfish Market along a route to Gina Hill.
WAPA personnel has removed electrical meters at locations where damage was apparent to either an electrical meter base and or weather head. In these instances, the customer is responsible for all repairs. WAPA will not reinstall meters until repairs are made by a licensed electrician. A formal letter acknowledging the completion of repairs must be submitted to WAPA along with a request for service reinstallation. All fees usually associated with this service are being waived during the restoration period. Customers are advised to make repairs to damaged weather heads and meter bases as soon as possible. Once crews have reached your neighborhood those customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired, will not have service restored until the second level of restoration work. Repair your damaged weather head or meter base now to avoid a delayed restoration of service.
Emergency call centers on St. Thomas & St. Croix are operating daily 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. The Authority is also working alongside the Virgin Islands Next Generation Network, viNGN.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

A leak has been detected in a 24-inch water main on St. Thomas. While crews identify the location of the leak and make repairs, service has been redirected to a smaller main to provide service to the downtown area. Customers in the downtown area will experience lower than usual water pressure until repairs are completed.
There are four days of emergency water storage on St. Thomas. WAPA expects to resume potable water service to Savan, Contant Knolls and Lindbergh Bay this week. Areas of Altona, Bergs Home, Government Hill, Estate Thomas, Lindbergh Bay and Havensight have all had potable water service restored.
There is a total of three days of water storage on St. Croix. WAPA is pumping at full capacity at both the Contentment and Concordia pump stations. Water service is being provided to Frederiksted, however, the pressure remains low until more water can be pumped into the Kingshill storage tank.
There are four days of water storage on St. John. Water service remains available throughout Cruz Bay.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Customer service offices in both districts will be functional on Wednesday. On St. Croix, customers can conduct business at the Authority’s office in Sunny Isle. In the St. Thomas-St. John district, a temporary customer service location will be available at WAPA’s Port of Sale Mall office. In both districts, customer service representatives will be available from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Self-service payment kiosks will also be available at both locations during these hours.
WAPA’s office telephones are operational in both districts. St. Croix: 340-773-2250 and St. Thomas – St. John: 340-774-3552.