WAPA Hires 240 Linemen From U.S. To Aid With Power Restoration; More Updates Announced

Here’s the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s latest post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria restoration update.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM

• WAPA has formalized the mobilization of 240 linemen from the United States to aid WAPA line personnel, and on-island contractors in the restoration of electrical service for both island districts. In this first phase of off-island contractor mobilization, 210 of the linemen are part of 35 crews which are bound for the Virgin Islands, and the remaining 30 are part of an additional crew headed to the territory. A smaller group of eight arrived over the weekend and are now deployed.
• Emergency call centers that were to be activated on Monday were delayed as communication links (T-1 lines) are down, preventing connectivity. WAPA is working with Viya to restore the lines for the emergency call centers on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The public will be advised once the call centers are activated.
•  WAPA continues to work jointly with Viya, the V.I. Waste Management Authority and the Department of Public Works on a clean-up initiative across the territory.
•  Damage assessments continue to provide the Authority an accurate picture of the extent of damage to WAPA’s electrical distribution systems. Restoration plans for both districts will be made public once the damage assessment process is completed. The restoration schedule cannot be developed until the conclusion of the assessment phase.
• WAPA continues to work with the administration and federal government partners in identifying funding for hazard mitigation projects. These initiatives will harden the distribution system including the undergrounding of electrical infrastructure. The intent is to build additional resiliency in the electrical transmission and distribution systems in both island districts, as we rebuild and restore service to all customers.
• Line department crews and contractors continued rebuilding various “A” feeders on St. Thomas Monday.  On Feeder 5A, a switchgear is being installed; on Feeder 6A, work is continuing to plant replacement poles from the power plant west toward UVI, and on Feeder 9A, lines were repaired and or replaced but will not be connected to the grid until Tuesday. Efforts also are underway to bring power to both the Ron de Lugo Federal Building and the Alexander A. Farrelly Justice Center which houses the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, VIPD Richard N. Callwood Command and the Bureau of Corrections.
•  On St. Croix, efforts continued Monday to energize more sections of downtown Christiansted and Frederiksted town up to the Paul E. Joseph Stadium. The service to St. Croix’s west end begins at the Midland Substation.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

• The system is gaining additional storage on all three islands.
• St. Croix: Seven Seas water production facility is online and stabilized after weekend work corrected high voltage challenges. The Richmond and Contentment pump stations are online and functioning normally as potable water service is being provided to a growing number of St. Croix residents.
• St. Thomas: There are three days of storage.  All areas east of town have been restored with potable water service. Work will continue to restore the Havensight area and more of Estate Bakkeroe. The Bergs Home pump station had been repaired but suffered damage to its weather head preventing the station from being re-energized with electrical service.St. John: There are four days of water storage. Additional storage is building and potable water service remains available throughout Cruz Bay.