Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer has provided an update on the progress made since the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands declared water a national critical priority.

Progress and Ongoing Works

Honourable Rymer in a statement at the Tenth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly said his ministry has shifted from planning into implementation of critical works to reduce water loss, strengthen infrastructure, and lay the foundation for a reliable and sustainable water supply across the Territory.

Minister Rymer stated with the team Operators Without Borders have completed their assessment of the water infrastructure in the Territory and has deployed a specialised team to assist with the supervision and installation of high-density polyethylene lines along the Ridge Road. He said approximately three thousand linear feet of HDPE pipe have been installed from the Diamond Estate Pump Station to the Montessori School gap so far, with the deployment of an additional specialised team underway.

Minister Rymer said, “This team will assist in conducting a comprehensive hydrology study and provide additional training in leak detection and repair techniques to strengthen the capacity of the Water and Sewerage Department. These ongoing collaborative efforts mark another significant phase in modernising the Territory’s water network and ensuring the long-term reliability of our system.”

The twelve month action plan under implementation by the Ministry of Communications and Works is based on five (5) core areas including Infrastructure and system upgrades, reservoir security and site accessibility, system monitoring and control, metering and network expansion, and asset mapping and system review.

Transparency and Commitment

Honourable Rymer also acknowledged the challenges in the comprehensive upgrading of the Territory’s water infrastructure adding that the consistent and reliable water supply we desired will not be immediate. 

He said, “The system we are rebuilding has suffered from decades of underinvestment and degradation. Replacing and modernising these critical components takes time due to procurement, shipping, and installation requirements. The recent assessment of our water infrastructure revealed that many components of the system are inoperable and must be replaced. These include pump stations, pumps, pressure valves, and other critical fittings and fixtures essential for maintaining steady water flow and pressure.”

Honourable Rymer said orders have been placed for replacement components that that will be installed and repair works will begin. 

The minister further added, “Of the twenty five pressure reducing valves currently installed, only fourteen are operational. Of the nineteen pump stations, only eight are functioning. This underscores the scale of the challenge we face. Due to the long lead time for the procurement and shipping of these specialised parts, delays are expected. Additionally, leak detection work cannot fully begin until these components are received, as leaks must be repaired immediately once identified to prevent further water loss.” 

Honourable Rymer said in the meantime, the ministry is aggressively advancing work on reservoirs across the Territory to ensure they are ready to store and distribute water efficiently once system upgrades are completed.

The Minister’s full statement can be viewed on the Government’s website at Gov.vg.