Hannah Hill Reservoir Project Nears Completion Despite
Rehabilitation work on the Hannah Hill Reservoir is entering its final stages and remains on track to be filled by Tuesday, despite an overnight theft of contractor tools. Following the completion of internal sealing and gauge repairs, crews will shift operations to the Sabbath Hill reservoir.
Rehabilitation work on the Hannah Hill Reservoir is nearing completion and remains on schedule to receive water by Tuesday, despite an unexpected setback involving the theft of essential tools belonging to the project contractor. Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Rymer, disclosed the incident after visiting the site to provide an update on the facility.
Repair crews arriving at the worksite on Wednesday morning discovered that a significant portion of their equipment had been stolen overnight, forcing the team to adapt with remaining tools while repurchasing necessary items to avoid major delays. Minister Rymer issued a direct appeal to those responsible, urging the swift return of the stolen equipment so operations can wrap up smoothly and without unnecessary costs.
He described the theft as an unfortunate situation that compromises vital public infrastructure. Despite the disruption, workers have pushed ahead with the final structural stages of the 480,000-gallon facility. Contracted specialists from Florida Aqua Store have finished the internal restoration, reinstalled the glass-fused panel floor, cleaned the panels, and reconnected the entry panels.
Crews are currently finishing external resealing to ensure the tank is fully watertight. Technicians also repaired the reservoir's water-level indicator, allowing operators to monitor water levels directly from the outside. Minister Rymer acknowledged that residents living at higher elevations in Hannah Hill have experienced reduced water availability during the downtime, thanking them for their patience as the critical repairs reach the finish line.
Once work at Hannah Hill wraps up, the contractor will move directly to the Sabbath Hill reservoir to commence the next round of repairs. The Hannah Hill overhaul is the first phase of an approximately $1.97 million government contract awarded to Florida Aqua Store in January. The programme covers five critical public water storage facilities across the Territory, including reservoirs at Fort Hill, Sabbath Hill, and Balsam Ghut on Tortola, as well as Minton Hill on Virgin Gorda.
The multi-site initiative is part of an ongoing government effort to modernize storage capacity and strengthen distribution reliability across the Virgin Islands. Anyone with information regarding the stolen tools or suspicious activity around the Hannah Hill site is urged to contact local law enforcement or the Ministry of Communications and Works.
Primary source: VINO