Hurricane Dorian Updates: Drinking Water Warning, WAPA Power Restoration, Vessel Removal Notice, Debris Removal Info And More

While Hurricane Dorian threatens Florida as a potential Category 4 storm, cleanup efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands, especially St. Thomas and St. John, continued throughout Thursday, a day after the storm, then a Category 1 hurricane, made landfall in the territory affecting mostly the St. Thomas-St. John District.

The Department of Public Works mobilized to remove debris left by the storm. Pictures on the department’s social media platform show backhoes clearing roads.

WAPA: Restoration work ongoing in St. Thomas/St. John; St. Croix fully restored; potable water service returning to normal

See which WAPA feeder you’re on here.

Line crews will be deployed this morning to complete work and fully restore Feeder 7A. In addition, crews will be dispatched to address approximately 20-25 remaining isolated service interruptions across the island.

Sections of St. Thomas Feeder 7A that are without service include:

— Portions of Estate Altona and Solberg to Four Corners;

— Four Corners west to Estate Dorothea, Sorgenfri, Caret Bay, West Caret Bay to the Estate Pearl intersection;

— Four Corners east to Mountain Top, Estate Mafolie, Estate Misgunst around to Drake’s Seat;

These areas are estimated to have repair work completed and service restoration by noon.

— Four Corners north to St. Peter Mountain, Barrett Hill, Hull Bay, Northstar Village, portion of Estate Mafolie to Drake’s Seat. These areas are estimated to have repair work completed and service restoration by 2 p.m.

If you are on a fully energized feeder (all but 7A), and are experiencing a service interruption, please contact WAPA at 340-774-3552, select option 4. Reports of isolated service interruptions may also be emailed to [email protected].

In a release issued late Thursday, WAPA said all electrical feeders in the St. Thomas-St. John district are either fully or partially energized following efforts by more than half a dozen line crews performing repairs to storm-related damage across several areas on St. Thomas Thursday. And while work continues to fully energize Feeders 7A and 8A, line crews have begun to address more than 50 isolated service interruptions that are reported at various locations across the island.

St. John was fully energized on Thursday as crews addressed pocket outage in some areas, and the island’s two feeders were restored.

On St. Croix, full electrical service was restored on Wednesday night, some four hours after then Tropical Storm Dorian skirted the island. Beginning at 4 p.m., line crews were dispersed across select areas of the island to conduct a damage assessment of the electric grid before commencing the restoration of service to customers.

After confirmation that there was no impact on the electrical distribution system, Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer said engineers and plant personnel began the task of restoring service to customers. “I would like to also point out that throughout the passage of Dorian, the Estate Richmond Power Plant remained online.” All St. Croix feeders were restored by 7:15 p.m.  Wednesday and Kupfer said following the restoration of all feeders, line department personnel shifted focus to resolving isolated service interruptions involving small numbers of customers.

Any customer that remains without electrical service is likely experiencing an isolated service interruption. Customers can make reports of isolated service interruptions as follows: on St. Thomas – St. John, call 340-774-3552, Option 4. On St. Croix, call 340-773-2250, Option 4. Reports of service interruptions can also be emailed to [email protected]. 

Potable water service on St. Thomas is being restored now that pump stations are re-energized. By Thursday evening, all pump stations with the exception of two facilities in Savan were back on line. The restoration of the pump stations will facilitate the resumption of potable water service.

On Thursday evening, the Water Division issued a precautionary boil water notice for potable water customers in the St. Thomas-St. John District. Due to a drop in water pressure in various parts of the water distribution system, as a precaution, 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 V.I. Department of Health may be used.

Water pressure keeps pollutants from entering the underground pipes that bring drinking water to your home or business.  This notice does not mean that the water is contaminated, it means it is possible for contaminants to enter the pipes and affect potable water. Until required bacteriological testing is completed, we recommend, as a precaution boiling tap water before using it to kill any potential contaminants. 

The authority’s microbiology water quality technicians are in the field closely monitoring the system for any irregularities that may occur.  They take great care in ensuring that your water is safe to drink and we appreciate your corporation with this precautionary boil water notice.

D.P.N.R. advisory for ground vessels

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources on Thursday said all owners of vessels that have sustained significant damages during Hurricane Dorian must make arrangements for the removal of that vessel.

Boat owners who do not make arrangements with a salvage company will be responsible for the full cost of salvage, removal, and storage incurred by the department. All vessels beyond restoration will be destroyed and disposed of at the local dump. 

Boat owners have 30 days from the date of this notice to contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement to avoid incurring such costs.

Contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement: St. Croix 340-773-5774 St. Thomas/ St. John 340-774-3320.

Drinking water post-Hurricane Dorian

According to D.P.N.R., cisterns should be disinfected by adding six (6) fluid ounces of liquid bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (i.e. Clorox) for every 1,000 gallons of water into the cistern.  A period of at least six (6) hours per 10,000 gallons should be allowed for the chlorine to react with the water before the water is consumed.  Smaller quantities of water may be utilized for drinking if boiled for at least four (4) to six (6) minutes or sterilized with eight to ten (8 to 10) drops of liquid chlorine, containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, per gallon of water. 

2)      Water collected in small quantities should be stored in a sterilized sealed, preferably glass container, which has previously held only drinking water.  This water may be utilized for drinking if:

• it is boiled for at least four (4) to six (6) minutes. After boiling, pour immediately into a sterilized (clean) glass or plastic container and cover with a screw cap.  Refrigerate if possible, after cooling.

• eight to ten (8 to 10) drops of liquid bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (i.e. Clorox) are added for each gallon of water.  The bottle should be well mixed (shaken); allow thirty (30) minutes to elapse before consuming.

Waste Management Authority

Residents urged to dispose storm debris at landfills

 The Waste Management Authority is advising the community that storm debris, including green waste, should not be disposed of at the bin sites or convenience centers.  These items must be taken to the landfill for proper disposal.

WMA is asking for the community’s cooperation with the placement of various categories of waste in its proper place. WMA said this allows it to effectively manage the waste produced.

Residents can report illegal dumping by calling WMA’s 24-Hour Hotline at 844-WMA-USVI (844-962-8784). 

Sewage overflow at Moravian Gut fixed, WMA says

WMA said it has repaired a sewage overflow in the area of the Moravian Gut.  Assessment of the area began on Monday, but work was suspended Wednesday as Hurricane Dorian passed over the Virgin Islands.

On Thursday, WMA engineers reported the assigned contractor has fixed the sewage overflow.  The contractor continues to work on extending the current bypass lines beyond the impacted area. The current four-inch bypass will be replaced with a larger six-inch bypass which will reduce future blockages.  At the conclusion of the work, the area will be washed and disinfected.