WAPA Shares Updates on Disaster Recovery Projects

On Friday, the Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure received testimony from the Water and Power Authority regarding the status of disaster-related projects in the territory.

Ongoing projects for WAPA are hazard mitigation projects, which include underground and composite pole infrastructure, generator installations, and renewable energy.

“On St. Croix, approximately 83% of the wood poles will be transitioned to underground utilities,” said Vernon Alexander, WAPA’s interim chief operating officer. He mentioned that 82% of the existing wood poles on St. Thomas and the downtown area of St. John will go underground as well. Areas unfit for underground systems will receive composite poles. So far, 2,460 of 4,003 have been installed on St. Croix, 1,422 of 2,333 have been installed on St. Thomas, and 1,193 of 1,960 have been installed on St. John. All 200 composite poles have been installed on Water Island since 2019.

In addition, two emergency generators will be installed at the island loads center in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay on St. John, a new generational unit is also being planned for the Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix and the East End substation is almost complete on St. Thomas. The air-insulated switchgear, relays, and meters will also be replaced at the Donald C. Francois substation.

Discussion was also held about WAPA’s water infrastructure projects.

“WAPA currently provides potable water service to approximately 13,000 customers across the territory,” said Alexander, and expansion is underway.

Sen. Franklin Johnson inquired about the pipes causing “rusty water” for customers.

Noel Hodge, director of water distribution, said that “those projects are in the works.” He mentioned that there have been some ductile water pipes installed since the 1940s and that WAPA is in the process of replacing the pipes that are causing rusty water with C900 PVC pipes. On St. Croix, pipes in Christiansted and Frederiksted have already been addressed. Clifton Hill will be next on St. Croix and Mahogany Estate, and Blackbeard’s Hill will be addressed next on St. Thomas. Currently, there is 10% water loss and 40% water loss on St. Thomas and St. Croix, respectively, because of the outdated pipes.