BVI begins refilling Hannah Hill Reservoir after year-long overhaul

Refilling of the Hannah Hill Reservoir on Tortola commenced this week following extensive rehabilitation work, Communications and Works Minister Kye M. Rymer announced after meeting with contractor Florida Aqua Store on Thursday.

The facility holds 400,000 gallons and marks the opening phase of a five-reservoir upgrade programme across the territory. Restoration by Florida Aqua Store, which started in August, involved removing and replacing floor panels, replacing all bolts in the floor and walls, interior cleaning and sealing, sanitization, and exterior resealing.

Operators will now track storage levels using newly installed monitoring equipment that displays readings outside the structure. Rymer stated that the refilling process began on Tuesday and praised the contractors and technical staff for their efforts over recent weeks.

Communities at higher elevations lost consistent water supply during the closure. As the reservoir returns to operation and fills, the government expects service to these areas to resume gradually. Rymer acknowledged the disruption and thanked residents for their patience.

Permanent Secretary Elvia J. Smith-Maduro called the work "a significant investment" in water infrastructure, part of broader efforts to strengthen reliability and resilience across the islands.

Four additional facilities remain in the pipeline: the 500,000-gallon Sabeth Hill Reservoir on Tortola; the 300,000-gallon Balsam Ghut reservoir; two 300,000-gallon tanks at Fort Hill; and a 400,000-gallon tank at the Milton Hill facility on Virgin Gorda.