Lawmakers press Waste Management Authority on collapsing sewer lines as officials warn full repair could take years

Senators and residents pressed the U.S. Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (WMA) on July 7 about repeated raw‑sewage releases and long‑running infrastructure failures that have affected businesses and neighborhoods across the territory.

The committee heard that WMA Interim Executive Director Daryl Griffith said the authority purchased emergency pumps but has not yet received some intended funds. "We never received the funds, unfortunately, but we did purchase the pumps," Griffith said, adding that the authority has been installing bypass pumps and repairing collapsed lines while planning a full replacement.

The discussion centered on recurring collapses of gravity and force mains — including a 42‑inch gravity main and a 24‑inch force main on Veterans Drive — that have forced repeated bypasses and localized flooding behind businesses near Windward Passage and Banco Popular. Engineering manager Alex Bruni told senators that the system includes dozens of distressed locations and that crews are inspecting manholes to identify backups. "If that's not resolved immediately, then we have to do more internal investigation to figure out where the blockage is, if there's a collapse in that area, and then move forward and to rectifying the problem," Bruni said.

Officials and senators also discussed FEMA and Office of Disaster Recovery involvement. Griffith said FEMA obligated roughly $3.2 billion after reviewing damage; those funds are targeted to public‑right‑of‑way underground sewer reconstruction, while WMA is still negotiating whether FEMA will fund private lateral connections from homes to mains. "The $3,200,000,000 really isn't sufficient to solve the problem," Griffith said, noting an additional, previously estimated cost in the hundreds of millions to connect private laterals.

Operational details provided at the hearing included: - WMA reports 31 pump stations territory‑wide. Keith Smith, territory manager of wastewater operations, said several pump stations are offline and being served with rented or bypass pumps (he cited three in St. Croix and two in St. Thomas currently offline and operated with bypass diesel pumps). He said most in‑house electrical pumps are not online and the authority is using bypass equipment in many locations. - WMA has tracked 153 sanitary sewer overflows territory‑wide so far this year, according to Smith's testimony to senators. - Procurement and delivery timelines: small pumps may arrive in about three months; larger pumps can take up to six months to build and ship; installation then takes additional time. A permanent, full‑depth replacement of some mains could require heavy dewatering and contractor work and will take years; Griffith estimated a territory‑wide rebuild could approach a decade.

Senators and residents pressed WMA to improve day‑to‑day maintenance and public communication. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger, who said her property has been affected for more than a decade, urged more frequent clearing and enforcement against illegal dumping. WMA said crews are increasing attention to problem spots and will pursue both short‑term bypass and longer‑term design and replacement with the Office of Disaster Recovery.

Officials stressed that the problem is not solely a single component: aging cast‑iron laterals from residences, collapsed mains, stormwater connections and debris that jams pumps all contribute to recurring failures. Bruni described two parallel problems at Windward Passage: a blocked storm drain and rotten cast‑iron laterals from residences that allow sewage into storm drains.

Department of Health and environmental partners were also discussed. Senators asked whether agencies had coordinated with academic or marine advisory groups to study water‑quality impacts; Department of Health representatives said they work with DPNR and the EPA and sometimes with the University of the Virgin Islands on water testing, but comprehensive territory‑wide leak quantification is not available because water‑quality flow meters are not in place.

Why this matters: WMA officials and senators said raw‑sewage discharges pose public‑health and tourism risks and cause repeated business interruptions. WMA and the Office of Disaster Recovery plan to coordinate design and construction, and Griffith said the authority will continue emergency pump operations while pursuing long‑term replacement.

Officials urged patience while design work, procurement and construction proceed but committed to stepped‑up inspections, targeted manhole checks, additional bypassing as needed and public outreach about expected disruptions as work progresses.

Ending: Committee members said they will continue oversight and pressed WMA and the Office of Disaster Recovery for clearer timetables, written updates and improved public notification. Officials asked residents to report overflows promptly so crews can respond quickly.