D7 & 8 property owners urged to sign up for 'free connection' to sewage system
This announcement was made by the Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), during a media site visit to the Long Swamp Pump Station on September 15, 2025.
The Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), and the representatives from the Seventh and Eighth Districts, led the visit.
The Long Swamp Pump Station is an essential part of the East End/Long Look Sewerage Project in Tortola, Virgin Islands. It is designed to pump wastewater from lower-lying areas to a processing site. The construction involved building wet wells and an inspection chamber, as well as procuring and installing pumps and mechanical components, alongside providing electrical and fencing elements.
Sewage system 'nearing completion'- Premier
Premier Wheatley stated, "The fact that we are here encouraging residents to sign on to the system or to hook up to the system is a sign that we are nearing completion, and it's been a long journey, you know, for this administration. We started in the previous administration, but we know that this project has been going on for decades. It's been spoken about for decades, and certainly it'll be a great source of pride for us to deliver this for the people of the Seventh and the Eighth Districts."
The contract value for works on the Long Swamp Pump Station with BioSafe Treatment and Septic Solution was $511,786.
Hon Wheatley added that sewage is nuisance and that while persons complain a lot about the roads, from his observation, one of the main challenges in terms of the roads is the water, which is running from various households on to the road, stating, "Because we know that asphalt is no friend to sewage, and of course, it creates havoc on the road."
'Hook up to the system'
He told residents that being good stewards of their community, being good neighbours, is important to ensure that they are responsible in terms of how they dispose of sewage water and sewage.
"And we have a sewage system that we have invested a great deal of money, a great deal of time, a great deal of energy, and the only way that it will be able to function properly, and the reason why we did all of this in the first place are for those persons in their homes to hook up to the system,’’ he further stated.
The premier noted that residents have septic tanks, but he said, "When we have multiple apartments, that septic tank can’t handle all of the sewage going into those septic tanks. So let us not fool ourselves."
He said the Seventh and Eighth Districts combine for one of the biggest population centres in the Virgin Islands. "And, of course, with a big population comes sewage and other pressing needs," Premier Wheatley said.
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19 Responses to “D7 & 8 property owners urged to sign up for 'free connection' to sewage system”
How are we suppose to maintained the system without generating revenue?
8 years and we haven't repaired the Admin building, or started rebuilding some schools.
We truly have to pray together that they never start on the airport.
We haven't even seen the secret reports yet.
Decades.....
In reference to the topic issue on the table, I admit that Ihave differ some of the time with our Premier on some issues, but on this one, been long overdued as was mentioned, I see it as a good move toward solving the sewage that will greatly improve the cleanliness of the involvemental condition of these two districts.
This move is much more than political maneuvering, but rather a genuine effort to bring to the conclusion of upgrading this needful infrastructural development sewage need.
I hope that no one or others should see this move as he/she or they shouldn't, but that that they should welcome it as positive, bearing in mind that that other districts would, sooner rather than later, be served likewise. Remember people the government is spending our tax money on an issue that is necessary, not random, not wasted.
run talk that