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HomeNewsLocal governmentWAPA Gives Restoration Update for October 4

WAPA Gives Restoration Update for October 4

Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

HURRICANE RESTORATION UPDATE ELECTRIC SYSTEM

  • WAPA personnel has removed electrical meters at locations where damage was apparent to either an electrical meter base and/or weather head. In these instances, the customer is responsible for all repairs. WAPA will not reinstall meters until repairs are made by a licensed electrician. A formal letter acknowledging the completion of repairs must be submitted to WAPA, along with a request for service reinstallation. All fees usually associated with this service are being waived during the restoration period.

Customers are advised to make repairs to damaged weather heads and meter bases as soon as possible. Once crews have reached a neighborhood, those customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired will not have service restored until the second level of restoration work. Repair damaged weather head or meter base now to avoid a delayed restoration of service.

  • On Wednesday on St. Croix, crews continued work on Feeder 6A to complete a circuit from Richmond power plant to Five Corners. The service may be energized by this weekend. In addition, crews continued to prepare a section of Feeder 8B from Hannah’s Rest to Frederiksted for restoration of service.
  • On St. Thomas, restoration crews are preparing to restore a portion of Feeder 6A from the Harley Power Plant to the UVI campus by this weekend. Crews successfully restored the immediate area around Banco Popular’s Main Branch in Altona including the nearby Calvary Christian Academy. Work continued Wednesday on Feeders 7B in Sugar Estate and on a portion of Feeder 10B. Crews from Western Area Power Administration continued work rebuilding WAPA’s transmission feeder. The work involves planting of poles and installing equipment and hardware. The Tutu electrical substation has been re-energized, which will lead to restoring some areas in and around Tutu and Fort Mylner over the next few days.
  • On St. John, crews planted new poles on the route from Cruz Bay to Myrah Keating Smith Health Clinic. There are about 10 poles along the path. Crews also worked in areas that included Pine Peace and Cruz Bay.
  • Emergency call centers on St. Thomas and St. Croix are operating daily on a 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. schedule. The call centers are the primary means by which customers can advise WAPA of isolated service interruptions once crews have carried out restoration work. The call center operating hours will be adjusted as restoration into neighborhoods and communities takes shape.

To contact the Emergency Call Center on St. Croix, call 773-0150, and on St. Thomas-St. John, the call center’s telephone number is 774-1424.

  • WAPA continues to work jointly with Viya, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, and the Department of Public Works on a clean-up initiative across the territory. The authority is also working alongside the Virgin Islands Next Generation Network, viNGN.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

  • Crews on St. Thomas continue to make repairs to a 24-inch water main. The leak was detected near the Cancryn cricket field. Until the repairs are completed, service has been redirected to a smaller main to maintain service. Customers in both the downtown and east end areas will experience lower than usual water pressure until repairs are completed and the system is recharged. Additionally, WAPA expects to resume potable water service to Savan, Contant Knolls and Lindbergh Bay later this week.
  • On St. Croix, WAPA continues to build additional storage at the Richmond, Kingshill, Recovery, Anna’s Hope and Grove storage tanks. Water service is being provided to Frederiksted; however, water pressure will remain low until more water can be pumped into the Kingshill storage tank.
  • Water service remains available throughout Cruz Bay.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Customer service offices in both districts are functional. On St. Croix, customers can conduct business at WAPA’s office in Sunny Isle. In the St. Thomas-St. John District, a temporary customer service location has been established at WAPA’s Port of Sale Mall office. In both districts, customer service representatives are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Self-service payment kiosks are also available at both locations during these hours.
  • WAPA’s office telephones are operational in both districts. St. Croix: 773-2250 and St. Thomas – St. John: 774-3552.
  • Restoration updates are available both on the WAPA website: www.viwapa.vi and on Facebook: Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.
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