WAPA: Voucher Distribution Starts Saturday for STX Residents Hit by Water Crisis

Starting Saturday, the V.I. Water and Power Authority will distribute water vouchers to St. Croix residents who live in the areas affected by lead and copper in their water supply, CEO Andrew Smith announced Wednesday.

The vouchers, which will be issued as coupons redeemable for bottled water at designated businesses over the next 90 days, will be distributed from Saturday through Monday, Nov. 18 to 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Smith said.

Representatives from WAPA, VITEMA, the departments of Health, Planning and Natural Resources, and Human Services, the V.I. National Guard and VI Police Department are coordinating this effort to ensure an efficient process at the distribution stations, he said.

Officials estimate more than 8,500 people living on St. Croix lack safe municipal water because of lead and copper content that was discovered during testing at the end of September. While cistern water is generally free from these heavy metals, many of these people may rely on WAPA water alone.

Emergency response officials disclosed a plan Nov. 7 to issue vouchers for free bottled water to these 3,431 affected households.

The lead and copper contamination was discovered while looking for the source of red and brown water coming from people’s facets.