Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Engineers pinpoint, repair broken main in widespread water outrage

April 22nd, 2023 | Tags:
A leak in a main water distribution pipe that resulted in a widespread water outage on the Min island of Tortola, was identified and repaired on Friday, April 21, 2023. Photo: GIS
SABBATH HILL, Tortola, VI - A leak in a main water distribution pipe that resulted in a widespread water outage on the Min island of Tortola, was identified and repaired on Friday, April 21.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr. Ronald Smith-Berkeley, said that the main water pipe at the Sabbath Hill tanks encountered a break and as such disrupted water across the island.

“The hardworking team at the Water and Sewerage Department identified a leak at Sabbath Hill, and further investigation revealed that there was a break in the main distribution pipe,” Mr. Berkeley said.

The Permanent Secretary added that the break almost created an island-wide water outage with exception to parts of East and West End.

“The team at Water and Sewerage worked diligently, well into the late hours of the night, Friday, April 21, in their efforts to repair the pipe and restore water to residents.”

He added that the safety of the team was a main concern, as the saturation of the ground became very unstable trying to get to the buried pipes. 

“Again we are grateful for the diligence of these public officers in restoring water,” Mr. Berkeley said while thanking the public for their patience on the matter.

20 Responses to “Engineers pinpoint, repair broken main in widespread water outrage ”

  • 2023 (22/04/2023, 14:32) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    we need elections every 2 years look water problems fix
    • Josiahsbay (23/04/2023, 08:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Our water problems are not fixed. They are temporarily held at bay. The distribution system needs to be upgraded with new pipes with more strategic placing of shut-off valves so that less area is affected when it does go off.
  • Political analyst (22/04/2023, 15:21) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    I’m not at the site so I don’t know where the break occurred in the pipe, ie, at a joint or along the run of the pipe. However, a close at the excavation provoke the question(s). Are (1) does the department use cushion sand beneath and atop lines, and (2) thrust blocks used at change of line direction(s)? And if no why not? Just curious.
    • Civil Engineer (22/04/2023, 18:24) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      Political Analyst, now you have high expectations of water and sewage. Water and sewage is the mostly poorly operated department. The Water and Sewage Department must be led by an engineer, preferably a civil engineer, environmental, engineer, water engineer, etc. In the past, they put HR expert and administrative expert in charge of Water and sewage and expect positive outcome. These people cannot set SOPs for functions they have not been trained in. Stop the nonsense and recruit an engineer , an experienced engineer. Positive outputs do not come cheap.
      • The joker (22/04/2023, 19:42) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        When I read these posts I just laugh and laugh and laugh! Political Analysts asks a simple question and Civil Engineer gives a simple answer, which is totally correct by the way. Asking someone to manage a department who has no clue how to do it backed by a Secretary who couldn’t tell a plastic pipe from a hole in the ground along with the infrastructure of a third world country will only lead to failure. The thought that it will get any better soon makes me laugh and laugh. But great job to all that stayed late and got the job done!
    • @Political analyst (22/04/2023, 19:38) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      I don’t fully grasp the basic technical concepts of cushion sand and thrust blocks but they sound like basic practices to protect lines. Should this be a basic part of constructing and repairing lines. Who is responsible for ensuring proper construction and respiratory? Is it the director , deputy director, operations, etc? Should not the ultimate responsibility be with the director. When will the BVI get at least a Second World Water and Sewage programme? Hell, we need First World. We must put the right people in the right job. Stop putting square pegs in round holes to build square pegs resume and personal legacy.
    • Construction Inspector (23/04/2023, 09:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Indeed, cushion sand and thrust blocks are best practices for water utility lines. They are on my check list before giving the ok to backfill. Putting a non-engineer in charge of Water and Sewage as director of W&S is akin to putting an HR nerd as a heart surgeon at the hospital. It is does not make sense. The same thing applies to Public works with the assignment of non-engineers. The results are the same—poor, poor, poor. The non-engineers are probably decent people, ie, Bummer, Jeremy, Pearline, who were out of their depths and the results show it, ie, roads, water and sewage. The Premier, Minister of works , utilities and transportation, employees all need a cut ass for assigning and taking they definitely were qualified to do. This is serious business not dolly house work. The employees were put in a Peter Principle situation, ie, promotion to a level of incompetence. Shame, shame on government. Let’s not repeat the same mistake. By the way, where is Glasgow? Did he not have a PHD in engineering ( transportation)? Here is an idea train to your needs with tax payers. Scholarships should be based on needs of the territory. Majoring in business and psychology easy majors are important but are not the most critical need. When scholarships are given they should be based on a national need; ie, when students return they should have something meaningful to do. We should train to meet the needs of others and we still in need.
    • @Political analyst (23/04/2023, 11:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I have enjoyed reading your blogs on a myriad of topics. I notice you not picking sides; just the facts. You have good insight so what is your prediction for the election. By the way,where have been all this time wid your valuable political insights.
  • pat (22/04/2023, 15:34) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Much about election gimmick no water all 13 needs to go
  • to be honest (22/04/2023, 16:06) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's messed up when they want from us they do anything .but when we ask it takes so long We've been begging n pleading for years
  • Hoomemie (22/04/2023, 18:18) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Vip got to go. No water everything is happening under this government. Mistakes Mistakes Mistakes now water what next vote them out
    • @Hoomemie (22/04/2023, 19:49) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Lets us be fair and reasonable.The VIP and other governments have many failures and successes but we cannot just selective select failures and deliberately ignore the successes. Infrastructure and utilities don’t have programmed times when they break down. They break down at the most inopportune time. You think the VIP schedule a water system break down days before a general election. Common on mon. I would ascribe that proper design design, construction, maintenance, repair,etc, reduces the possibility for untimely break downs.
  • GROSSLY unacceptable (22/04/2023, 19:45) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The entire sea cows Bay area do not have water for approximately 2 weeks. So, please where did the problem get fix? How come we still dealing with water issues this day and age? Imagine living in a home where you mostly depend on street water because the Landlords refuse to turn on their cisterns!!! You wake up cannot shower and all sort! People still have to bathe in bucket in this error. Bvi not a real place. It's time we stop putting band aid and fix the problems!!!
  • smh (22/04/2023, 19:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That department needs more field workers
    • @SMH (23/04/2023, 11:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      It also needs some strong technical, experienced leadership. The last guava crop of administrative type(s) was an abject failure, failure, failure. Successive governments and leadership out of its depth failed the people over and over. Water and Sewerage is an unmitigated disaster. Anyone who orchestrated the disaster should not rewarded with position of increasing responsibilities. It is undeserving. As others noted, recruit an experience engineer so that we can get a reliable water supply to bath and flush. Is that asking too much. Politicians campaign on getting things done so let’s get ah dun.







  • VOTER6BVI (22/04/2023, 20:09) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    YOU SOUND SO FUNNY LEAVE VIP ALONE EVERYTHING PEOPLE BLAMING VIP FOR .UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY HAVE DONE THEIR BEST. VIP ALL THE WAY. PEOPLE LET US PRAY FOR ALL WHO IS RUNNING.
  • purcell (22/04/2023, 21:30) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is sad when my eldery Mom cant get access to water in Purcell Estate at nights. All this is considered to be town. How difficult can it really be. Smh. I am Fedup with the currsnt situation for years now.
  • c (23/04/2023, 05:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a coincidence, it’s being found and repaired the weekend of elections.
  • Genius pinpoint investigation (23/04/2023, 05:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you start at the main holding tank /pressure vessel which appears (like in a pantomime)to be behind them to the left (see picture) the leak seems to have occurred shockingly close.
  • PVC PIPES (23/04/2023, 15:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS LEAVING PVC
    PIPES EXPOSED TO THE SUN ON THE GROUND SOMETIMES FOR YEARS ( RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SOME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HOSPITAL AND THE GOVERNOR HOUSE PARKING LOT , OR AS YOU PAST CUSTOMS GOING DOWN WEST , THOSE PIPES ARE GOING YO BECOME BRITTLE AND WHEN THEY DECIDE TO LAY THEM ,THE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP HAIRLINE CRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE ON THE TOP WHERE THE SUN WAS SHINING ON THEM AND YOU MIGHT NOT SEE IT BUT WHEN YOU LAY THEM THE WATER PRESSURE WILL OPEN THE CRACK AND IF THE AREA IS SANDY OR GRAVELY THE WATER WILL BE ABSORBED FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT START SHOWING UP ON THE SURFACE , SO WMEVEN IF THE PIPES ARE BEDDED PROPERLY THE PROBLEM IS ALREADY THERE / YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COLOR ON THE TOP OF THE PIPES , WHERE THE SUN WAS SHINING ON , ( FORMER WORKER )


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.