On Wednesday, the V.I. Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) advised the community that the LBJ Pump Station on St. Croix was offline due to mechanical problems, which caused an overflow of manholes in the Christiansted area. The overflows occurred specifically near the intersection of Water Gut Street and King Cross Street, near the government parking lot. As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the LBJ Pump Station is back online.
This comes on the heels of the announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of $3.6 billion in new funding from the Biden-Harris administration. The U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $21 million of that funding for infrastructure and wastewater improvements.
Manhole overflows and sewage disruptions have been a problem for quite some time, occurring at least once a month, as confirmed by VIWMA’s Communications Director, Lorna Minkoff. Multiple community members have also complained about foul smells in the residential community near the former LBJ Garden Housing Community.
Minkoff confirmed that the funding will help to update these pump stations and others. As for plans for similar repairs to occur on St. Thomas and St. John, Minkoff said, “We do plan to work on St. Thomas and St. John as the grant money comes in, but right now the oldest problem one is the LBJ conversation.”
VIWMA Manager Keith Smith said the overflow was due to a broken discharge line in the LBJ pump station. “The transmission line broke,” he confirmed.
Smith mentioned that the issue is ongoing, and plans are underway to replace the outdated pump station completely. The station’s proximity to the ocean is a contributing factor, as it impacts the pipes. There are also plans to relocate the station.
Smith said they are currently in the planning stages of building a new station. As for a timeline, the design is only in the beginning stages.
For the time being, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority announced that on Thursday, there will be a scheduled low to no water pressure at 5 p.m. to repair two critical tie-ins near the V.I. Territorial Public Health Laboratory and the Office of EMS Regulatory in Estate Richmond. The outage is expected to last six hours. For a full list of areas affected, click here.
During the repairs, there may be occasional sewage water overflow at manholes in the Christiansted area. Motorists and pedestrians should be aware that the sewage water runoff may contain harmful contaminants or pollutants. Residents are advised to avoid sewage water runoff and any areas that may appear discolored or have foul odors due to potential health risks.
For more information, please contact the Division of Education and Communications Management at 340-474-2811.
If communities have health concerns and wish to report a foul smell, they are encouraged to contact the V.I. Health Department on St. Croix at 340-718-1311.
