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Newsletter of the V1. Planning Office and the V.I. Water Resources Research Center 809/774-1252 WAA TA™ Caribbean Research Institute College of the Virgin Islands St.Thomas, US.Virgin Islands 00801 Ext. 250 Vol.1 ' No.2 Mar - Apr 1978 PROBLEM-RESEARCH ANALYSIS The Water Resources Research Center has recently published a project completion report titled Problem- Research Analysis in the U.S. Virgin islands, Insular Region, Atlantic Subregion. The purpose of the pro- ject was to solicit from the public and governmental officials state- ments about the problems in meeting the increasing demand for water and the role of research as an aid in solution of the more urgent needs. The first step in the problem- research analysis was to identify the major researchable water prob- lems in the U.S.V.I. and to estab- lish a rank of importance or urgency in the problems identification. This was accomplished by distribu-' ting a questionnaire to persons con- sidered to have an interest or involvement in water resources of one nature or another. Responses received from 21 individuals were tabulated and ranked. The Water Center then conducted three workshops between October 1974 and April 1976 to further explore the various water pro- blems. The workshops were atten- ded by government officials, legislators, representatives of the academic community and civic organizations, and private citizens. lem-research analysis, Y csesere the questionnaire and the workshops, identified and ranked the most severe water problems in the U.S.V.I. The major categories are: (1) (2) (3) (4) Alternatives in water supply Conservation and water re- use Water Quality and waste management Social, economic, and insti- tutional problems in water resources planning and management The entire project was supported by funds provided by the United States Department of Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology as authorized under the Water Resources Act of 1964. Copies of the report Problem-Research Analysis in the U.S. Virgin Islands can be obtained from the Caribbean Research Institute, College of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas. ‘COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STARTED AT VIPO The Water Resources Staff at the V.I. Planning Office is currently developing a framework for a com- prehensive water and related land resources plan for the Virgin Islands. The initial stage of fhe plan is an analysis of the duties and functions of all agencies in the Virgin Islands involved with water resources. It is felt that such an investigation is necessary because without a crit- ical evaluation of the entire, water spectrum there is no means of pin- pointing areas of deficiencies and identifying agencies responsible for satisfying needs. Through this evaluation, the Plan- ning Office intends to determine desirable levels of services and the scope of water: resources involvement by local and federal agencies; to identify the specific duties of agencies engaged in or concerned with water conservation, use and im- provement; to ascertain if each agency is meeting the requirements and intent of its delegated purposes; to seek out areas of overlap and duplication of effort; and to iden- tify functions and services which are inadequately provided or neglected altogether. It is anticipated that a comprehensive plan can be prepared within three years. OTHER PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST The Water Resources Center at the University of California has pub- lished a report on The Design of New Residential Water Consumption Sys- tems. The report includes a profile of typical residential consumption, a history of water use in the home, the impact of economic, socio-cultural, institutional, and technological factors, a survey of relevant aero- space technology, strategies for reducing the homeowner demand, and recommendations for specific actions to be taken by lawmakers and utility companies to reduce residential con- sumption. It is a non-technical report intended to homeowners, builders, developers, planners, law- makers, and utility managers who are seeking ways to reduce water con- sumption. The report is available from: Water Resources Center, Director's Office, 475 Kerr Hall, University of California, Davis, CA 95616. The price of the publication is $7.50 per copy (prepaid, postage and handling included). A copy will soon be available for inspection at the Water Resources Research Center, CVI. RESULTS OF 1975 NATIONAL WATER ASSESSMENT : The V.I. Planning Office recently completed a report for the U.S. Water Resources Council 1975 National Water Assessment. The Assessment resulted in four technical reports and consists of an inventory of water use and water resource problems in the V.I. The following list of potential studies was also included in the assessment of water resources in the Virgin Islands. (1) Evaluation of the effects of cistern water on public health. Inventory of the number of cisterns on the islands, establishing the capac- ities and condition. Assessment of the present quality of all wells (public and private) anda procedure devised for moni- toring the quality and quantity of all wells. Evaluation of water quality from catchment and asso- ciated storage facilities. Survey to locate aquifers and establish data on their capabilities for supplying fresh water. Evaluation of streamflow. Inventory and assessment of impoundment for water use. Evaluation of water con- sumed by evapotranspir- ation. Applications of solar energy technology to supply water needs (eg. desalination plants, methods for remov- ing water from the atmo- sphere, etc.). Continuing study of the use of highly treated (terti- ary) sewage effluent for recharging aquifers. (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)