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Low Water Storage Levels Require Continued Conservation

July 15, 2008 — A water-conservation schedule implemented over the weekend on St. Croix will continue because water storage "remains at dangerously low levels of only 5 to 10 percent of capacity," according to the V.I. Water and Power Authority.
Several of the desalination units in the Richmond Power Plant went down for emergency repairs last week, and the island has received little rainfall over the past several months, according to a WAPA news release.
Water service to St. Croix customers is scheduled to be interrupted from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. But users at higher elevations may not get water until 6 a.m., or hours later after pumps are engaged, because of limited pumping capacity. Customers at very high elevations — including areas in Estates Calquohoun and Mount Pleasant, and the upper floors of Aureo Diaz housing community buildings — may get little or no water because of current system limitations. WAPA urges water customers to use cisterns as an alternative for their water supply.
Water personnel will monitor the system closely and make daily assessments to determine when service can be fully restored, once water-storage capacity has improved to acceptable levels. Customers with special concerns should contact the St. Croix Water Division at 773-3775. After-hours emergencies should be reported to 773-2250, ext. 7.
On St. Thomas, water services continue to be available from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p. m. in residential areas. The St. Thomas Water Division can be contacted at 775-5873.
"WAPA apologizes for the inconvenience of the water-conservation schedules, which are in effect on St. Croix and St. Thomas, but as the territory quickly approaches the height of hurricane season, WAPA must insure that water reserves are available for the safety and security of Virgin Islands residents," the release said.
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