Hannah Hill Reservoir Repairs Begin as Contractor
The Government of the Virgin Islands has confirmed that Florida Aqua Store has commenced mobilisation and is scheduled to arrive on-island on Wednesday 5 August 2026 to begin phased repairs at the Hannah Hill reservoir, the first of five critical tanks slated for rehabilitation under the Territory’s multi-year Water Infrastructure Action Plan (Government of the Virgin Islands). Mobilisation was delayed from mid-July after specialised materials and equipment arrived late in shipping; the Ministry of Communications and Works says it will try to maintain flow while the tank is taken offline but warns residents at higher elevations to expect temporary reductions and to store water in advance (Ministry/GIS).
The Government of the Virgin Islands has announced that repairs to the Hannah Hill reservoir are set to begin shortly, after specialised contractor Florida Aqua Store commenced mobilisation and is scheduled to arrive on island on Wednesday 5 August 2026, according to a Government press release.
The contract between the Government and Florida Aqua Store — valued at $1,972,222.00 — was signed in January 2026 and represents the first major phase of the Territory’s multi-year Water Infrastructure Action Plan, the Government said. The Hannah Hill job is the programme’s initial priority and will be followed by works at Fort Hill, Sabbath Hill, Minton Hill on Virgin Gorda, and Balsam’s Ghut.
Mobilisation had originally been anticipated for mid-July but was pushed back when specialised materials and equipment arrived late in shipping, shifting the contractor’s arrival to early August, the Government and the Ministry of Communications and Works stated. Local media, including Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), also reported on the mobilisation and the revised August 5 arrival date, citing ministry briefings.
Work at Hannah Hill will be carried out in phases with priority given to restoring the structural integrity and long-term reliability of the tank, the Ministry said through the Government Information Service (GIS). During the initial phase, the Ministry of Communications and Works will work to maintain continuous flow through the distribution network where possible, but there will be times when the reservoir must be taken offline for rehabilitation.
The ministry is specifically notifying customers served by stored pressure from Hannah Hill — primarily households and businesses at higher elevations — that they may experience reduced water availability while the tank is offline. Affected residents are being asked to store sufficient water in advance, monitor ministry updates closely, and plan for temporary changes to supply.
The Ministry acknowledged the inconvenience this will cause and thanked the public for their patience (Ministry/GIS). Officials said the five-reservoir rehabilitation programme is part of a broader effort to confront recurring pipe failures, expand storage capacity to withstand dry spells, and relieve the day-to-day strain on an overtaxed distribution network.
The Government called the temporary measures necessary to ensure the long-term integrity and safety of tanks and to deliver more reliable, affordable water services once the programme is complete. As work progresses, the Government has pledged to provide regular, site-specific updates and as much advance notice as possible of planned service interruptions.
For further information, residents can contact the Department of Information and Public Relations, Information Officer Paul Bridgewater, at 468-2747 or pbridgewater@gov.vg. For international media enquiries, the Government listed BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com, and general government contacts include phone 1(284)468-3701 and WhatsApp 1(284)468-9760 (Government of the Virgin Islands).
Primary source: BVI Government