March 13, 2002 – To accommodate V.I. Carnival 2002 activities, the Water and Power Authority has rescheduled work on its ongoing project to detect water line leaks.
WAPA has contracted with Utilities Services Associates of Seattle, Wash., to look for water line leaks territorywide. USA uses high-tech listening devices to pinpoint the location of leaks.
Work was originally slated to begin on the western end of St. Thomas but now has been concentrated instead in downdown Charlotte Amalie, Cassandra Dunn, WAPA public relations officer, said Tuesday. The work is being finished on what will be the Carnival parade route, she said, and then will proceed to the area between Merchants Market in Estate Lindbergh Bay and Nisky Center.
The project is expected to improve the potable water delivery system significantly by increasing water pressure and reducing interruptions caused by breakage of water lines.
Best Construction, a St. Croix company, will repair and replace potable water lines on both St. Thomas and St. Croix where USA detects leaks.
The project — affecting 227 combined miles of lines on both islands — is expected to take about 13 weeks on St. Thomas, finishing around April 15. Work is to start on St. Croix on March 18, with an approximate completion date of May 31.
To minimize inconvenience to customers, WAPA recommends storing at least three to five gallons of water per person for drinking and bathing while the work is going on. Some cut-offs of service for repairs to be made could take as long as a day, the authority said, but most are expected to be substantially shorter.
