An uptick in leaks in water lines across St. Thomas is puzzling officials of the Water and Power Authority, who say that while repair work continues, they are investigating possible root causes.
A press release issued by WAPA on Friday notes that work is ongoing to repair several water line ruptures and leaks, including on a 10-inch main on West Julian Jackson Road, an 18-inch main on Veterans Drive, a line on Long Bay Road that serves Yacht Haven Grande, and a line near the hospital ground areas.
These leaks have impacted customers in the immediate vicinity as well as downstream. WAPA says that progress is being made on the repairs, however warns customers that “some work may extend into the weekend due to the complexity and volume of the issues.”
According to Chief Operating Officer for Water Noel Hodge, “our teams are not only focused on immediate repairs but also investigating underlying causes to prevent future occurrences.”
While much public attention has been on WAPA's inability to deliver steady and stable electricity to the islands, the utility's water woes have not gone unremarked. Consumer dissatisfaction with persistent water discoloration sparked a territorial crisis when testing revealed elevated levels of heavy metals in the St. Croix water supply. Although subsequent investigation revealed that the results of the testing were overblown, the scrutiny that ensued triggered significant changes in the way WAPA treats the water that it delivers to consumers.
