Residents Demand Water
Residents of Huntum’s Ghut in Tortola report a fourth consecutive day without running water, leaving families unable to cook, clean or care for children. Community members are calling on the Government, the Ministry responsible for water and the Water and Sewerage Department for immediate action and clear communication.
HUNTUM’S GHUT, Tortola — Frustration and exhaustion are rising among Huntum’s Ghut residents as interruptions to the water supply enter a fourth day, with households describing the situation as a deepening crisis. One local mother, now four days without running water, pleaded: “We are desperately pleading with the Ministers and those responsible to please help us get running water back through the pipes.” The lack of water is affecting basic daily life.
The resident, who has three children at home, said her family cannot cook, clean, wash or care for the children properly. Without water to prepare meals, the family has had to buy food from restaurants — an unaffordable expense for many who are already struggling with high living costs.
The Territory’s recent heat has compounded the problem, making it difficult to keep homes comfortable and hygienic. Emergency stores of water that many households fill ahead of outages are now depleted. “The little water left in my mop bucket has to be used to flush the toilet. All the buckets we had filled are now empty,” the resident said, describing how families must ration the last drops between sanitation and basic household needs.
For many in the BVI this is not an isolated inconvenience but a recurring quality-of-life issue. People say they are tired of constantly filling containers, wondering if water will be available the next morning, and being forced to spend limited funds on bottled water and prepared meals.
The situation raises broader questions about access to safe and sufficient water — a right recognised by the United Nations as essential to life, health and dignity. Residents are calling for more than temporary explanations. They want clear communication, timelines for restoration, and accountability from those responsible for the Territory’s water infrastructure — including the Government of the Virgin Islands, the Ministry responsible for water and public utilities, and the Water and Sewerage Department.
The urgency is heightened when young children, elderly people and vulnerable families are affected. “We cannot continue living like this in 2026,” the Huntum’s Ghut resident said. “Four days without running water is frustrating, exhausting, and unacceptable.” As the community awaits a reliable fix, locals insist authorities provide immediate relief measures — emergency water deliveries, transparent updates, and long-term investment in infrastructure so residents no longer have to choose between paying other bills or keeping their families fed and clean.
Primary source: Guavaberry