At a time when the Virgin Islands is losing as much as 80 percent of the water it produces to leaks, the government has announced plans to crack down soon on illegal water connections across the territory.
First, though, the Ministry of Communications and Works is allowing a grace period for residents with unauthorised connections to visit the Water and Sewerage Department to regularise their accounts.
After that, officials said unauthorised connections will not be tolerated.
“The ministry says such practices are unlawful, unsustainable and place an unfair burden on law-abiding citizens and that this is an opportunity for customers to come forward and correct their accounts without penalty,” government warned in a press release. “Beyond this grace period of 30 days, the government will take legal action and enforce compliance without further notice.”
$8m plan
The crackdown follows the government’s June announcement of plans to spend $8 million to start upgrading water infrastructure under an official declaration that allows it to bypass tender requirements and award contracts more quickly.
“With Cabinet approval, our government has made water a national critical priority, emphasising our commitment to ensuring every Virgin Islander can rely on consistent access to this vital resource,” Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said at the time. “Declaring water a national critical priority underscores its essential role in the health and prosperity of every community member and business.”
The $8 million — which officials said will come from the $100 million loan the government secured last year from CIBC Caribbean bank — will help ensure that “immediate repairs, upgrades and expansions” are executed promptly, according to the minister.
At the time, Mr. Rymer also announced the arrival of three visiting volunteer engineers from the Canada-based non-profit Operators Without Borders, who estimated that the territory had been losing as much as 80 percent of its water to leaks.
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