265 Linemen And Their Equipment Arrive In USVI On Thursday; Latest WAPA Updates Announced

Governor Kenneth Mapp said on Tuesday night that the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority would welcome 265 linemen along with their equipment to the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday. The linemen, once here, will start work territory-wide the following day, the governor added, noting the development as a major step in the territory’s power restoration effort.

Below, find WAPA’s latest power and potable water restoration update post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM

• On St. Croix Tuesday, crews energized areas in the vicinity of the Henry Rohlsen Airport on Feeder 8B as well as on a double circuit Feeder 6A. Removal of storm debris which include downed poles, power lines, transformers and fuses continued into Frederiksted in the Mount Pleasant, William’s Delight and Two Brothers areas.
• On St. John, crews continued to rebuild various electrical circuits in Cruz Bay, as well as in the Gallows Point and Grande Bay areas.
• On St. Thomas, crews made significant progress in energizing portions of several electrical feeders on Tuesday. On Feeder 6A, a circuit from the Randolph Harley Power Plant to the UVI campus was energized, as well as the Sports & Fitness Center, the FAA control tower and West Bay Supermarket. The feeder path from Banco Popular west to Nisky Shopping Center was energized. In Sugar Estate, crews will install new lines Wednesday on the recently installed replacement poles. The area behind the Schneider Regional Medical Center was reenergized on Tuesday, to include a number of medical office complexes. Off island crews are continuing to reconstruct the distribution network that will interconnect WAPA’s Tutu and East End electrical substations.  This work is making steady progress as crews advance toward Fredenhoj ballpark, en route to the substation in Nazareth.  An assessment now underway will determine the feasibility of undergrounding significant portions of Feeders 9A and 10A. These feeders provide electrical service to the Crown Bay Marina, several shipping companies, sand fill operations and the general Crown Bay area.
• Restoration and reconstruction work continues in each district. The focus remains on reconstructing the backbone of the electrical system. The primary electrical circuits that are not currently energized must be reconstructed prior to service restoration to commercial or residential customers.
• 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. Home and business owners are advised to make repairs to their damaged weather heads and or meter bases as soon as possible. Once crews have reached your neighborhood, customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired, will not have service immediately restored.
• POTABLE WATER SYSTEM
• There are two days of emergency water storage on St. John, with water service available throughout the town of Cruz Bay.
• There are six days of emergency water storage on St. Thomas.  The Water Division continues to work with electrical crews to re-energize additional pump stations. The water division is working with FEMA and WAPA electric crews to restore service to two pumps stations which are currently off line. The pump stations, once restored would allow a resumption of potable water to Savan and Contant Knolls communities.
•  On St. Croix, there are four days of emergency water storage. The water division continues to pump at full capacity at Contentment, Mount Welcome and Concordia pump stations.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• All electrical problems must be reported to the WAPA Emergency Call Centers to be properly documented and tracked. These problems include, but are not limited to, electrical service interruptions as well as damaged and downed facilities such as poles, transformers, and power lines. The WAPA Call Centers are now operating 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days per week. St. Thomas – St. John: 340-774-1424 and St. Croix: 340-773-0150.
• The Authority’s Customer Service Offices are functioning in both districts. On St. Croix, customers can conduct business at the Authority’s offices in Sunny Isle. In the St. Thomas-St. John district, a temporary customer service location has been established at WAPA’s offices in Port of Sale Mall. In both districts, customer service representatives are available from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.  Self-service payment kiosks are also 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.

Feature  Image: Downed utility pole on St. Croix. (Credit: Irene Ali Photography)