St. Croix water crisis

St. Croix water crisis
Duration	October 2023-January 2024
Location	St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Coordinates	17°43′29″N 64°50′05″W / 17.7246°N 64.8348°W
Type	Water contamination:; Lead, copper;
Outcome	3,800-4,000 homes contaminated with heavy metals in water; Public health state of emergency;

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

^ "St. Croix Water Crisis: WAPA Says Lead Levels Extremely High; Bryan Weighs State of Emergency, Encourages Residents to Disconnect Ice Machines". October 17, 2023.
^ "The U.S. Virgin Islands Is in a State of Emergency". TIME. 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
^ "Bryan declares state of emergency amid St. Croix water contamination". 31 October 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
^ "Haulers Complain of WAPA's Brown Water". St. Croix Source. September 28, 2005.
^ "Vialet Calls On DPNR To Fine WAPA For Brown, Contaminated Water In Light Of Impetigo Outbreak". The Virgin Islands Consortium. October 22, 2015.
^ "Water Testing Finds Elevated Levels of Lead, Copper in St. Croix Samples". The Virgin Islands Consortium. October 16, 2023.

[1] "St. Croix Water Crisis: WAPA Says Lead Levels Extremely High; Bryan Weighs State of Emergency, Encourages Residents to Disconnect Ice Machines". October 17, 2023.

[2] "The U.S. Virgin Islands Is in a State of Emergency". TIME. 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2023-12-27.

[3] "Bryan declares state of emergency amid St. Croix water contamination". 31 October 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.

[4] "Haulers Complain of WAPA's Brown Water". St. Croix Source. September 28, 2005.

[5] "Vialet Calls On DPNR To Fine WAPA For Brown, Contaminated Water In Light Of Impetigo Outbreak". The Virgin Islands Consortium. October 22, 2015.

[6] "Water Testing Finds Elevated Levels of Lead, Copper in St. Croix Samples". The Virgin Islands Consortium. October 16, 2023.

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