Aug. 26, 2003 – Joe Bradford, Public Works Department director of utilities, said on Tuesday that a "slight mishap" at the Barren Spot pumping station and a breakdown of the LBJ pumping station a week ago have both been resolved and that both installations are functioning normally.
The Barren Spot pumping station is undergoing restoration and replacement of pipes, Bradford said. "There was a misalignment of factory specifications which caused a slight bypass of sewage," he said. The bypass, or discharge of sewage, occurred behind Ricardo Richards Elementary School.
Bradford said the pipes have been correctly reinstalled and the situation has been rectified.
On Aug. 19, Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood issued a release notifying residents that the LBJ station had ceased operations because of a break in an adjacent pressure line. As a result, sewage was being discharged into the sea in the vicinity of the North Shore beaches.
Bradford said on Tuesday that the problem occurred when the fill surrounding an above-ground tube destabilized, causing a crack in the underground pipeline. That situation also has been rectified he said.
He said St. Croix's three major pumping stations — LBJ, Figtree and the Lagoon — are all undergoing major rehabilitation. "Things are looking up," he said.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
