COMMITTEE ON DISASTER RECOVERY, INFRASTRUTURE 
AND PLANNING 
BILL NO. 
36-0206 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
November 17, 2025 
 
 
 
An act requiring the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to expand the potable water 
distribution system, perform necessary upgrades to the existing potable water distribution 
system, and install fire hydrants in Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
 
Senator Avery L. Lewis 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“VIWAPA”) shall 
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perform the following work in Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas: 
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(a) 
expand the potable water distribution system to the unserved areas; 
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(b) 
perform the necessary upgrades to the existing potable water distribution system to 
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achieve sufficient water pressure; and 
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(c) 
install and maintain at least two additional fire hydrants. 
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SECTION 2.  (a) The Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services shall assist 
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VIWAPA with the placement of the fire hydrants in section 1, subsection (c).  
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(b) 
VIWAPA is required to complete the work in section 1 within one year from the 
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enactment of this act.  
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(c) 
VIWAPA shall submit bimonthly progress reports on the status of the work in 
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section 1 to the Legislature’s Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and 
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Consumer Protection. 
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2 
 
BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill requires the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“VIWAPA”) to expand 
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the potable water distribution system and perform necessary upgrades to the existing potable 
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water distribution system in Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas. The bill also requires VIWAPA, in 
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coordination with the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, to install and 
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maintain at least two additional fire hydrants in Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas. VIWAPA is 
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required to complete the work within one year from the enactment of this act and submit 
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progress reports to the Legislature. 
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BR25-0771/September 10, 2025/GC 
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