A rupture in a wastewater pipeline near the LBJ Pump Station in Kennedy has forced the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority to take the facility offline, the authority announced Sunday evening.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. The damaged line sits beneath vegetation away from any roadway, so the authority does not foresee traffic problems in the area.
VIWMA estimates that locating and reaching the break will take roughly two days. The authority has given no estimate for how long repairs will take or when the station can resume normal service.
"As a precautionary measure and to facilitate the necessary response, the LBJ Pump Station must be temporarily offline while VIWMA's Wastewater Division works to locate and access the damaged section of the pipeline," the authority said in a statement.
People living and working near the station should stay clear of any standing or flowing wastewater and notify VIWMA of any unusual conditions they observe.
The rupture surfaces just under two weeks after VIWMA unveiled a proposal to rebuild the LBJ station at a different inland site. In late October, the authority laid out plans for a new facility on 1.67 acres at Estate Penitentiary, where the Ralph de Chabert housing community once stood. The planned station would have two wet wells, each powered by three 250-horsepower pumps, plus backup generators and two force mains. The design would let crews maintain or repair one section while keeping another part running.
VIWMA is working with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources on the response. Residents and businesses can reach VIWMA at 340-712-4962 or by email for updates or to report wastewater concerns.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.