The St. Croix water crisis was an public health crisis that started in October 2023 after the tap water from the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) was contaminated with lead.[1][2]
On October 30, 2023, US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan declared a state of emergency for the district of St. Croix.[3]
Timeline
The following is a sequence of events related to St. Croix water crisis.
Pre-switch
- September 2005: Water haulers complain about the brown water coming from WAPA's Seven Seas desalination plant on St. John.[4]
- October 2015: Senator Kurt Vialet called on DPNR to fine WAPA after residents found brown contaminated water flowing through their faucets.[5]
- August 18, 2019: A Estate Diamond resident on St. Croix reported brown and reddish contaminated water from WAPA.
2023
October 16 - The Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority conducted water testing which resulted in high levels of lead and copper found in several of the samples.[6]
References