Sen. Samuel Carrion reiterated the urgency of his concern for the people of St. Croix suffering from the water quality crisis and called for further action in the wake of Gov. Albert A. Bryan Jr.’s announcement of a “no drinking” advisory.
“For two months now, I’ve been saying that this water was undrinkable and that we were facing a crisis situation,” Carrion said. “This is why I called for a State of Emergency in early September. The results are now in, but how long will it take to address this issue truly? Many people are not comfortable using this water to bathe, wash dishes and clothes, or even sustain their fruit and vegetable gardens. Further action must be taken.”
In a heartfelt letter addressed to the governor on Sept. 7, Carrion urged Bryan to consider declaring a State of Emergency to provide immediate relief to the people of St. Croix who are struggling with critical water supply and quality issues.
“Water is an essential necessity of life, and the current situation on St. Croix is simply becoming intolerable. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) is the primary source of water for many of our residents; however, in recent months, both the quality and availability of water have become increasingly problematic,” said the senator.
WAPA’s recent testimony confirmed that there is no clear or immediate solution to the multifaceted water crisis affecting St. Croix.
As stated in his previous letter to Gov. Bryan, Sen. Carrion is advocating for the speedy establishment of water distribution facilities on St. Croix to provide clean, safe drinking water to citizens dealing with poor water quality. The current water situation burdens ratepayers, particularly senior residents, who are continuously forced to pay for subpar water.
Carrion’s request for a State of Emergency declaration is based on the urgent need to receive federal assistance to combat the water crisis effectively. This step will help enable the implementation of targeted solutions and provide relief to the St. Croix community.
