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WAPA Releases Hurricane Restoration Update for Nov. 9

Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

HURRICANE RESTORATION UPDATE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  • WAPA crews continued to re-energize residential and commercial customers in both districts as restoration continues at a steady pace. Reconstruction and/or restoration is being done on all feeders in both districts.

o   On St. John, Thursday, Bellevue Housing was restored and crews worked to prepare the Sirenusa development for power restoration. Other crews planted composite poles in the area where both Feeders 7E and 9E come together on the road to Coral Bay.

o   On St. Croix, portions of Mars Hill, Sion Farm, Gallows Bay and Contentment were energized. Crews also worked along the road past the Buccaneer Hotel toward the east end. Crews continue to work in Frederiksted reconstructing primary lines on Queen and Fisher Streets.

o   On St. Thomas, crews restored service to some customers in Frenchman’s Bay, Anna’s Retreat and Estate Mandahl. Reconstruction work continues on Feeders 6A, 7A, 9C and 9D. Crews are working in specific areas of Savan and near the Palms Court Harborview Hotel. Crews will begin work on Monday on both the Magens Bay Road toward Peterborg and along Skyline Drive. Work continues on Feeder 5A which provides service to a small portion of St. Thomas and to Water Island.

       The public is reminded that through an agreement reached between WAPA and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), WAPA will energize homes with temporary roofs once a licensed electrician inspects and certifies that the structure is safe to energize.

  • WAPA reminds the public that several hurricane removal debris crews are deployed across the islands. Motorists are asked to exercise caution when traversing around the heavy equipment being used to pick up downed poles, transformers, wire and other equipment. Additionally, residents who have downed poles, transformers and other equipment on their premises as a result of the hurricanes should contact the Emergency Call Centers so arrangements can be made to pick up the damaged equipment.
  • WAPA advises residents that it is necessary to shut off standby generators when line crews are in your neighborhood restoring electrical service. A standby generator has the potential to back feed electricity to the grid which poses a severe safety risk to restoration crews.
  • All electrical problems must be reported to the WAPA Emergency Call Centers to be properly documented and tracked. The Emergency Call Centers operate 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days per week. St. Thomas – St. John: 774-1424 and St. Croix: 773-0150.

    WAPA personnel has removed electrical meters at locations where damage was apparent to either an electrical meter base and/or weather head. Home and business owners are advised to make repairs to their damaged weather heads and/or meter bases as soon as possible. Once crews have reached your neighborhood, those customers who have not had their weather head or meter base repaired, will not have service immediately restored. Additionally, customers and electricians are reminded that it is against the law to remove or otherwise destroy meter seals. If work needs to be done to repair a damaged meter base and or weather head, contact WAPA’s Emergency Call Centers, which operate seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

    There are six days of emergency water storage on St. John, 10 days on St. Thomas and seven days on St. Croix.

    WAPA reminds the public that a precautionary boil water notice for potable water customers is in place territory-wide. Due to a drop in the water pressure, as a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making infant formula or juices, making ice, brushing teeth, washing fruits or vegetables and washing dishes be boiled. Bringing water to a rolling boil and maintaining for one full minute is sufficient. Water must be adequately cooled before it can be used and should be stored in clean, covered containers. As an alternative, bottled water certified for sale by the Department of Health may be used.

    WAPA urges clean-up contractors and homeowners in both districts to exercise caution when piling debris on and around potable water meters. There are a growing number of instances where water meters are being damaged by clean-up equipment grading debris and causing damage to the roadside water meters. The continued damage by heavy equipment poses difficulty in maintaining or restoring potable water service to customers.

OTHER INFORMATION

    In observance of Veteran’s Day, the administrative offices of the V.I. Water and Power Authority will be closed on Friday, November 10, 2017. However, the customer service offices at Sunny Isle on St. Croix and at Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas will be open on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Emergency Call Centers operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

St. Thomas-St. John district, 774-1424; St. Croix district, 773-0150

    WAPA telephone contact: St. Thomas-St. John District, 774-3552; St. Croix district, 773-2250

    Customer Service Offices operate Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sunny Isle on St. Croix and at Port of Sale Mall on St. Thomas

    WAPA website: www.viwapavi / Facebook: Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

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