Hannah Hill Reservoir Repairs To Begin Soon Amid Water Crisis

Repairs to the Hannah Hill reservoir are expected to get underway soon, as the Government moves to address critical water storage and distribution problems amid mounting public frustration over the Territory’s worsening water crisis.

According to the government in a press release issued on August 1, Florida Aqua Store, the specialised contractor hired to rehabilitate five critical reservoirs across the Virgin Islands, has begun mobilising and is scheduled to arrive in the Territory on Wednesday August 5.

The $1,972,222 contract was signed between the Government and the contractor in January 2026. Mobilisation was initially expected by mid-July, but delays in shipping specialised materials and equipment pushed the contractor’s arrival to early August.

According to government, the rehabilitation programme will be carried out in phases, with the Hannah Hill reservoir identified as the first priority. Once that work is completed, repairs will move to the reservoirs at Fort Hill, Sabbath Hill, Minton Hill on Virgin Gorda and Balsam’s Ghut.

The Ministry of Communication said it will seek to maintain a continuous flow of water through the distribution network during the first phase. However, residents at higher elevations in Hannah Hill who depend heavily on pressure stored within the reservoir may experience reduced water availability while the tank is offline.

Affected residents are being advised to store sufficient water in advance and closely monitor updates from the ministry. The temporary interruption is considered necessary to protect the reservoir’s long-term structural integrity, with further information to be provided as the work progresses.

The project comes as the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government continues to face massive criticism over its inability to adequately address the water crisis, which has left residents across the Territory dealing with prolonged interruptions and uncertainty.

The reservoir repairs represent the first major phase of the Government’s multi-year Water Infrastructure Action Plan.

According to the ministry, the Territory’s water system remains under acute strain from recurring pipe failures, inadequate storage during dry periods and the daily pressures placed on an overtaxed distribution network.

“These are not distant historical problems; they are present realities,” the Government stated, adding that it hears the community’s frustration and shares the urgency surrounding the situation.

The Government acknowledged that patience is a difficult request when water remains scarce and said it does not take residents’ understanding for granted.

Regular, site-specific updates will be issued throughout each phase of the programme, along with as much advance notice as possible of any service interruptions.

The Government said the reservoir project forms part of the wider effort to resolve the Territory’s systemic water challenges and thanked residents for their continued patience as work continues towards providing a more efficient and reliable water supply.