Premier Urges Residents To Keep Backup Water Supply

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley is encouraging residents to maintain black tanks or cisterns as a backup water supply as communities across the Territory continue to grapple with water woes.

Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme on July 20, the Premier described access to stored water as a practical safeguard, even if the Territory’s longstanding production and distribution challenges are resolved.

“I think persons should recognise the challenges we have, and even if we didn’t have all the challenges we have, there’s a situation where you need to have some water storage, whether you do the black tanks, whether you want to actually do a cistern,” he said.

“I think it’s always good to have some redundancy, to have some backup water for any particular circumstance. I just think it’s a smart thing to do.”

Premier Wheatley also expressed sympathy with residents experiencing water shortages, describing the situation as one of the most pressing priorities for his Virgin Islands Party Government.

“Let me just commiserate with those persons who are having challenges with water. I mean, it’s terrible when you don’t have access to water, and it’s one of the most pressing priorities for this administration,” he stated.

He also commended Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Kye Rymer for his efforts to address the Territory’s water problems.

Plants Should Not Have Been Decommissioned

Explaining the history of the water challenges, Premier Wheatley said the Territory previously had several production facilities, including plants at Baughers Bay and Sea Cows Bay.

However, the Government subsequently adopted a model centred around the BiWater plant and decommissioned some of the existing facilities.

“We went with a model of having the BiWater plant to provide water for a number of areas in the Virgin Islands, and we decommissioned some of the plants that we had,” he explained.

“I think we should have kept those plants up and running, the one in Baughers Bay and Sea Cows Bay.”

Premier Wheatley said water production is only one part of the problem, pointing to significant losses within the ageing distribution network.

“You might be producing water, but you have so many challenges in the distribution of water. Before the water can reach some of these places, the water disappears into the ground,” he said.

He also cited the Territory’s difficult topography, faulty pressure-management infrastructure, inadequate and leaking storage facilities, and ageing transmission lines among the factors contributing to the crisis.

“It’s a big challenge. It’s a big problem. It requires time, it requires money, it requires a lot of engineering expertise,” he stated.

Gov't Replacing Pipes, Repairing Reservoirs

Outlining the Government’s response, Premier Wheatley said the Ministry of Communications and Works has received engineering assistance from Water Without Borders.

He said the Government has also procured high-density polyethylene pipes, commonly known as HDPE pipes, which are being installed across the Territory to improve the reliability of water transmission.

“Those pipes are very difficult to break and provide more reliability in the transmission of water,” he said.

The Premier added that reservoirs are being repaired and new water pipes are being installed underground as roadworks progress.

He further disclosed that water production will return to Sea Cows Bay through the commissioning of a new plant. The Government is also exploring additional locations for water-production facilities and increased storage.