July 30, 2007 — For the third time in six months, the force main line adjacent to the Figtree pump station is experiencing a sewage leak.
Warnings have been issued for boaters and residents to avoid the Figtree Gut and Hovensa Beach for the next several days. The area is being excavated to find the source of the leak, the V.I. Waste Management Authority’s communications manager said Monday.
"On the average, these lines are more than 30 years old," Stella Saunders said. "We have been mapping the system, but in between some areas become impacted and we have to redirect our attention to that area."
The current leakage began Friday and crews worked through the weekend to repair it. To alleviate the problem the station was taken off line to allow the force main to be drained. This process takes approximately 36 to 48 hours. During the shutdown, sewage will bypass into the Figtree Gut, which discharges into the sea east of Hovensa, according to a VIWMA press release issued Friday.
The VIWMA task-force coordinator, General Engineering Corporation (GEC), is excavating the area to find the source of the leak.
For more information, contact VIWMA's Office of Compliance Management at 712-4956.
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