Emergency Water Distribution Begins in Frederiksted as Drought, Richmond Shutdown Strain St. Croix Supply

ST. CROIX — Emergency water distribution will begin in Frederiksted Sunday evening as prolonged drought, reduced pumping and the precautionary shutdown of WAPA’s Richmond reverse-osmosis operation continue to cause low water pressure and service interruptions across portions of St. Croix. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. authorized private water haulers to provide non-potable water from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 30, at three Frederiksted locations: the parking lot adjacent to the Midre Almeric Cummings Recreational, Youth Facility and the Reinholdt Jackson Sports Complex, and the former Arthur A. Richards Junior High School campus. Residents must bring their own containers and will be limited to 25 gallons per person per day, equivalent to five 5-gallon containers. The distributed water is not potable and should not be used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or other consumption. The emergency measure comes as drought conditions have reduced St. Croix’s available water inventory...