Government Plans Briefing on St. Croix Water Contamination Tuesday Afternoon

A critical update to the residents of the Virgin Islands community regarding the ongoing water quality situation on St. Croix was issued Monday by the USVI Joint Information Center and in a statement by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., with the government also planning to hold a press briefing on the issue Tuesday afternoon. 

Over the past week, the V.I. government has been working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the source of the lead and copper contamination affecting portions of St. Croix’s water supply, according to the press release.  

The group understands the profound concern this issue has raised among the residents and other public officials and wants to assure the community that the health and safety of Virgin Islands residents remain their top priority, the press release stated.  

Based on extensive work carried out in collaboration with the EPA, their preliminary assessment is that the lead and copper contamination source is unlikely to originate from the Water and Power Authority’s water source. Instead, initial findings suggest that the problem is within the distribution system, specifically in the areas of concern identified last week, the release stated. 

These areas remain Estates Castle Burke, Colquhoun, Diamond, and Mon Bijou, it said.  

The administration has taken decisive action to address this situation with utmost urgency.

“Over the past week, our government has been in close coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the source of contamination affecting our water supply. Based on our collaborative efforts, we are now fairly confident that the source of lead and copper contamination is unlikely to have originated from the water supply provided by Seven Seas to the Water and Power Authority,” Bryan said in a statement Monday.

During this past weekend, 74 samples were collected from the identified areas of concern. In addition to the 10 samples collected last week, these samples have been transported off-island by WAPA personnel to specialized laboratories in Puerto Rico and Florida. The group anticipates receiving the results from the first batch of samples by the end of this week, according to the press release.

“As a result of this preliminary assessment, our administration has taken swift action. We conducted resampling in the identified areas of concern, collecting 74 samples over the weekend in addition to the 10 collected last week. These samples have been hand-delivered by WAPA personnel to specialized laboratories in Puerto Rico and Florida. We anticipate receiving the initial results within the next 24 hours,” Bryan added.

These test results are paramount, as they will enable officials to assess the extent of the issue and determine the appropriate course of action. The findings will also guide them in determining whether the threshold for declaring a state of emergency has been met, the press release stated.

“We acknowledge the concerns raised by residents, and we appreciate the calls for a state of emergency from members of the 35th Legislature. It’s important to note that, with the information currently available, declaring a state of emergency will not empower the Government of the Virgin Islands to take any additional measures beyond the scope of our current response efforts,” Bryan said.  

The government is treating the matter as an emergency, according to the release. Three dedicated teams have been formed, meeting daily to address this situation comprehensively, consisting of a Technical Team, Public Information Team, and Joint Command Interagency Team led by the commissioners of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Health Department, the release stated.

“Rest assured that we are treating this situation with the utmost seriousness. Our teams are working tirelessly to pinpoint the exact source of contamination and recommend corrective actions. We are fully committed to ensuring the highest standards of water quality in St. Croix and the safety of our residents,” Bryan stated.

An update on St. Croix water quality will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday from Government House on St. Croix.

To view the live stream, visit the Government House Facebook page or their YouTube channel.