President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in response to severe lead contamination in the water of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The declaration follows tests conducted on St. Croix, revealing lead levels exceeding Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits by more than 100 times – marking one of the most alarming instances of lead contamination in a U.S. community in decades.
Residents on the island, including Frandelle Gerard, executive director of Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Inc., expressed their concerns. Gerard stated, “On a personal level, it’s been frightening and frustrating.”
In response to the dire situation, officials advised residents to refrain from using tap water and initiated the distribution of bottled water, recognizing the devastating effects lead can have on childhood development, behavior, and IQ scores.
However, skepticism arises as experts consulted by The Associated Press, including Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech lead and water expert, question the validity of the alarming results. Edwards argued that the testing methods employed did not meet EPA standards, stating, “The data should be thrown into the garbage.”
Instances of inaccurate information regarding lead contamination are not unprecedented. Majority-Black communities, such as Flint, Michigan, and Newark, have faced lead crises in the past, with officials initially concealing high lead levels.
In the case of St. Croix, officials took a different approach, promptly informing residents of the alarming results and declaring a state of emergency. Andrew Smith, head of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, emphasized, “This is not something that we shy away from talking about.”
Edwards attributes the high results to the collection method, asserting that samples collected from the meter, rather than the household faucet, artificially inflate lead levels. Tom Neltner, a chemical and lead expert at the Environmental Defense Fund, supported this claim, stating that testing from the water meter isn’t accurate.
The uncertainty persists, leaving parents in St. Croix unaware of the extent of lead exposure their children may have faced. Initial tests in September, conducted at faucets following EPA lead testing rules, indicated the water was safe. However, subsequent tests at the meter revealed astronomically high lead levels.
A comprehensive investigation is underway, with local and federal officials conducting detailed testing to identify the root cause. A final report is expected in mid-December. Andrew Smith noted that around 3,400 homes are affected, and despite deviations from standard testing procedures, EPA water expert Christine Ash recommended caution, advising residents not to consume utility water until further investigation is conducted.
St. Croix residents fortunate enough to rely on rainwater collected in cisterns are exempt from this precautionary measure. Unlike mainland cities where lead pipes pose a threat, St. Croix faces issues with brass fittings containing lead that can corrode into the water.
Regardless of the test results, the water system demands attention and repair. The island’s water officials are currently flushing water through the system, addressing water treatment methods to reduce corrosiveness, and planning the replacement of components containing lead. Replacement efforts may extend over the next 12 to 18 months, and major upgrades to the aging water system are anticipated in the coming years.
Frandelle Gerard expressed the overwhelming sentiment among St. Croix residents, stating, “There’s this sense of well, what’s next for St. Croix?” The island has endured a devastating hurricane, the pandemic, and water contamination from a refinery in recent years, leading many to abandon tap water long ago. Gerard concluded, “As a fairly literate person, reading the reports has almost left us with more questions than answers.” The uncertainty looms, and the temporary measure of flushing water, ill-suited to the island’s water-conserving society, adds to the challenges faced by the community.
