A leak in a main water distribution pipe that resulted in a widespread water outage was identified and repaired on Friday, April 21.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr. Ronald Smith-Berkeley, said that the main water pipe at the Sabbath Hill tanks encountered a break.

“The hardworking team at the Water and Sewerage Department identified a leak at Sabbath Hill, and further investigation revealed that there was a break in the main distribution pipe,” Mr. Berkeley said.

The Permanent Secretary added that the break almost created an island-wide water outage with exception to parts of East End and West End.

“The team at Water and Sewerage worked diligently, well into the late hours of the night, Friday, April 21, in their efforts to repair the pipe and restore water to residents.  The safety of the team was a main concern, as the saturation of the ground became very unstable trying to get to the buried pipes.  Again we are grateful for the diligence of these public officers in restoring water,” Mr. Berkeley said.

We are grateful to the public for their patience that this very unfortunate incident may have inconvenienced, during the restoration of this very vital commodity.

The Department of Water and Sewerage seeks to ensure the provision of a continuous supply of potable water to all residents of the Virgin Islands.  Persons can contact the Department at telephone numbers, 468-9213/468-9860 East; 499-2924/499-0500 Road Town and Central; and 499-2620 West.

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Note to Editors: Image- Water and Sewerage officers on site at Sabbath Hill making repairs to main water distribution pipe break.