ST. CROIX — A wastewater force-main break near the LBJ Pump Station in the Kennedy area will require the station to be temporarily taken offline, the V.I. Waste Management Authority said Sunday night, warning nearby residents and businesses to avoid contact with standing or flowing wastewater.
The incident was reported at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. VIWMA said the damaged pipeline lies in a vegetated area away from the roadway and that it does not anticipate traffic disruptions.
Crews may need approximately two days to identify and reach the damaged section of the underground pipe, according to the authority. That estimate covers locating and accessing the break; VIWMA has not established a timeline for completing repairs or restoring normal operations.
“As a precautionary measure and to facilitate the necessary response, the LBJ Pump Station must be temporarily offline while VIWMA's Wastewater Division works to locate and access the damaged section of the pipeline,” the authority said in its November 8 release.
VIWMA said it is coordinating with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources as the response develops. Residents and businesses in the surrounding area were urged to exercise caution, stay away from wastewater and report unusual wastewater conditions to the authority.
The new break comes less than two weeks after VIWMA presented plans to replace the troubled station at an inland location. As The Consortium reported on October 28, the authority is seeking approval for a new facility on a 1.67-acre site at Estate Penitentiary, on land formerly occupied by the Ralph de Chabert housing community.
The proposed station would include two wet wells, each served by three 250-horsepower pumps, along with standby generators and dual force mains. Officials told the St. Croix Coastal Zone Management Committee that the design would allow part of the facility to remain operational while another section undergoes maintenance or repairs.
Sunday’s release did not provide an update on that replacement proposal. It focused on the immediate response to the damaged pipeline and said additional information would be released as it becomes available.
Residents seeking information or reporting unusual wastewater conditions on St. Croix can call VIWMA at 340-712-4962 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
