Breaking

WAPA’s reconstruction and restoration crews continue to report significant progress in the buildout of primary electric circuits on all three islands.
On St. Thomas Monday, primary circuits along with residential and business customers were energized on portions of Feeder 6A. Those areas include Clearview Apartments along Crown Mountain Road to Estate Pearl and UVI Sports and Fitness Center to the Massac Nursing Home in Estate Hope. Primary circuits on Feeders 7A and 8A, from Harley the power plant to Nisky Center, will be energized by mid-week. Service to the Grandview community on Donoe Road has been restored as well as portions of new Tutu, Nadir and a significant portion of Bovoni.
On St. John, crews reconstructed primary circuits on Feeders 7E and 9E and customers in the Pine Peace area had electrical service restored. Crews are also working to re-energize the Caneel Bay and Westin resorts by mid-week.
On St. Croix, additional poles and lines were installed on of Feeder 4A while work continued on Feeder 5A from Queen’s Quarters to Sion Farm. The primary lines which will serve the modular units at Luis Hospital were energized, as was the Sunny Acres area. On the western end, more primary circuits were built from the police station toward the post office, as well as in Hannah’s Rest and in Estate Whim. Additional portions of Feeders 6A / 6B will be energized this week, and the Gallows Bay area within two weeks. Work is also ongoing this week on Feeders 2A and 9B.
Reconstruction and restoration crews will work in the following areas on Tuesday: on St. John, on the roadway near the Department of Public Works and along the roads leading to the Caneel Bay and Westin resorts. On St. Thomas, Crown Mountain, Estate Hope, the roadway in front of the Harley power plant, Donoe Road intersection toward Wintberg, Donoe bypass road and Tabor and Harmony road toward Mandahl. On St. Croix, in Queen’s Quarters, downtown, Golden Rock, Estate Richmond, Barren Spot, Estates Whim and Hannah’s Rest, downtown Frederiksted and on the North Shore road. Motorists are urged to follow the directions of flag persons, military police and VIPD officers who are assisting with traffic control.
WAPA reminds its customers that the work being done in the initial phase of the recovery is focused on the rebuilding of primary circuits throughout the feeder paths. Customers whose homes and businesses are along the main circuit routes are being energized when the primary circuits are brought online. However, the bulk of the restoration to residents and businesses will take place in the second phase of restoration.
WAPA advises residents that it is necessary to shut off standby generators when line crews are in your neighborhood restoring electrical service. A standby generator has the potential to back feed electricity to the grid which poses a severe safety risk to restoration crews.
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 operate 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days per week. St. Thomas – St. John: 340-774-1424 and St. Croix: 340-773-0150.
WAPA personnel has removed electrical meters at locations where damage was apparent to either an electrical meter base and/or weather head. 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, those customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired, will not have service immediately restored.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

There are six days of emergency water storage on St. John, ten days on St. Thomas and six days on St. Croix.
WAPA reminds the public that a precautionary boil water notice for potable water customers is in place territory-wide. Due to a drop in water pressure, as a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making infant formula or juices, making ice, brushing teeth, washing fruits or vegetables and washing dishes, be boiled. Bringing water to a rolling boil and maintaining for one full minute is sufficient. Water must be adequately cooled before it can be used and should be stored in clean, covered containers. As an alternative, bottled water certified for sale by the Department of Health may be used.
WAPA urges clean-up contractors and homeowners in both districts to exercise caution when piling debris on and around potable water meters. There are a growing number of instances where water meters are being damaged by clean-up equipment grading debris and causing damage to the roadside water meters. The continued damage by heavy equipment poses difficulty in maintaining or restoring potable water service to customers.

OTHER INFORMATION

Emergency Call Centers operate 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days a week.
St. Thomas – St. John district, 340-774-1424; St. Croix district, 340-773-0150
WAPA telephone contact: St. Thomas – St. John district, 340-774-3552; St. Croix district, 340-773-2250
Customer Service Offices are now operating Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Sunny Isle on St. Croix and at Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas
WAPA website: www.viwapa.vi