Modernizing USVI Water Infrastructure Gets Boost From EPA Audit

M.A. Dworkin

USVI - The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) acknowledged the findings of the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) audit which began in January 2024 and included an on-site visit to the Territory in April 2024.  

“We appreciate the OIG‘s work and view the report as an important tool to help strengthen our internal capacity as we manage major federal investments in the Territory’s water infrastructure,” DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol announced in a recent statement.

Both major utilities (WAPA and VMA) have been awarded funds (subawards) from DPNR for the implementation of several significant infrastructure projects, including:

• Christiansted Sewer System Upgrade - approximately $11 million (M)

• Krause Lagoon Interceptor Upgrade - $10M

• Blackbeard Waterline Rehabilitation - $3.5M

• Mahogany Estate Waterline Rehabilitation - $2.7M

• Installation of automated water meter readers - $3M

• Hospital Ground Waterline - $1.2 M

At the time of the audit, DPNR’s Division of Environmental Protection had only one financial staff member dedicated to managing these awards. This staffing limitation contributed to several concerns noted in the OIG’s report. Since then, DPNR has taken meaningful steps to expand its capacity. DPNR now has four financial team members supporting the division’s grant and financial management responsibilities, significantly improving the department’s ability to track, report, and administer federal water infrastructure funds. 

It is also important to clarify that while DPNR is the official state agency responsible for receiving these federal awards, the department primarily serves as a pass-through entity for the Territory’s utilities, most notably the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and Waste Management Authority (WMA). These utilities are the implementing agencies for the projects funded under these programs.

Additionally, DPNR has approved the required Facility Plan for the Mangrove Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project of $29 million. WMA is currently working on the final engineering plans and design needed to put the project out to bid.

These projects represent critical progress toward modernizing the Territory’s water and wastewater systems. 

“The challenges identified in the OIG report were real, and we did not wait for the final publication to begin addressing them,” said Commissioner Oriol. “Since early 2024, we have significantly strengthened our staffing, tightened our financial practices, and accelerated the flow of federal dollars to long overdue projects. Our commitment is unwavering: the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands deserve a reliable, modern water infrastructure system, and DPNR is doing the work to deliver it.”