Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

October 24^th, 2023                                                    340-201-6453

Press Release

PLASKETT RELEASES STATEMENT ON RECENT WATER TEST RESULTS ON ST. CROIX

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement concerning the recent water test results released by the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for numerous sites on St. Croix:

“I am deeply troubled by the persistent water crisis faced by Virgin Islanders on St. Croix, and the recent results shared by the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority regarding extremely high levels—tested by the EPA—of copper and lead in the drinking water in numerous locations. 

“I and my fellow Democratic colleagues have passed legislation on water infrastructure in the last 2 years, providing significant federal resources to states and territories like the Virgin Islands to replace aging water infrastructure.  Within the last few months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two consolidated grants through the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) for drinking and clean water infrastructure, totaling approximately $43 million dollars to the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), with subawards to the V.I. Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and the V.I. Waste Management Authority (VIWMA). The funding from these consolidated grants can be used to address the longstanding infrastructure issues that cause the brown water on St. Croix. 

“Provisions of that same bill meant that early this year the Biden administration provided over $52 million in further funding to the territory under the Clean Water Act. These funds are to be used to upgrade and replace essential water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to further public health and water quality improvement and protection objectives. Some of the proposed projects can include wastewater collection system repair and replacement and aim to provide metered, reliable potable drinking water to USVI residents.

“In addition, any portion of the over $500 million that the Government of the Virgin Islands received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) could be used to fund improving or replacing water & sewer infrastructure. Cities like Albany, NY (pop: 98,000), Wausau, WI (pop: 40,000) and Rochester, NY (pop: 210,000) have used ARPA funding to replace public and private lead service lines in an exceptionally cost-efficient way.

“Furthermore, I look forward to the realization of FEMA’s commitment to replace the entire wastewater system on St. Croix—this project would provide an estimated $1 billion in funding to allow VIWMA to rebuild its aging wastewater infrastructure on St. Croix in accordance with current industry standards. In 2021, the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery along with VI Government consultants at Witt O’Brien insisted that FEMA was not using the correct formula to evaluate the cost to rebuild our territory’s critical infrastructure. My office pressed and organized a summit between FEMA, the Virgin Islands government, and the appropriate professional staff in Congress to have FEMA re-evaluate the figures for rebuilding our critical infrastructure.  That summit allowed FEMA to hear from the individuals working on the ground and have validation on the intent of the formula for rebuilding from the staff in Congress who wrote the language under the law for our rebuilding funds. Thanks to the work accomplished during the summit, FEMA has authorized over $1 billion dollars in funding to replace the water infrastructure on St. Croix in its entirety.

“The various provisions shared above are resources that we can use to address an untenable present problem. I, like many people on St. Croix and in the Virgin Islands, am disturbed and concerned about the water issues we currently face. It will take all of us working calmly and vigilantly, taking in new ideas and strategies, both short and long-term, to mitigate this water crisis while we find a permanent solution.

“During this time, please continue to observe and abide by all precautionary measures shared by WAPA regarding water use on St. Croix, which include not using water for drinking or consumption at this time in the following areas: Estates Castle Burke, Colquhoun, Diamond, and Mon Bijou.

“My office is committed to working with the Virgin Islands Government, WAPA, VIWMA and other government agencies to employ both short and long-term solutions to the water issues in the territory.”

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