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Newsletter of the VI. Planning Office and the V.I. Water Resources Research Cented 809/774-1252 WAA TA Caribbean Research Institute College of the Virgin Islands, St.Thomas, US.Virgin istani™ 00801 Ext. 250 Vol.1 ' No.3 May - June 1978 onan TERN V.I. WATER LAW CONFERENCE A conference on Virgin Islands Water Law was held June 1-2 at Bluebeards Castle. The confer- ence was sponsored by the V.I. Water Resources Research Center, the V.I. Planning Office, and the V.I. Water Resources Commission. There were more than 60 regis- trants representing all three islands. The objectives of the conference were: (1) To inform the attendees about the theory and history of U.S. water law and describe the various types of water law, em- phasizing the doctrine of prior appropriation. (2) To explain the present water law and administra- tive system in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (3) To analyze the ade- quacy of the present water law and the administrative system in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (4) To pre- pare a conference report which will serve as a citizen's handbook on water law and to identify research needs. The topics discussed were History of water law in the United States, Doctrines of water law, Admin- istrative systems and enforcement strategies, Trends in environ- mental/land use/ water law, His- tory of water law in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Administrative "= and water allocation pro- “Tt — cedures in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Role of the V.1. Water Resources Commission, Discussion of Problems in the U.S. Virgin Islands water law, Beneficial use of water in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Allocation as_a tool for management of a scarce resource. The participants in the conference were: Dr. Norwell Harrigan ‘and Dr. Roger Peebles, Caribbean Re- search Institute; Professor Robert . E. Clark, College of Law, University of Arizona; Dean Frank E; Maloney ,. College of Law, University of ; Florida; Mr. Dee C. Hansen, State. Engineer, Utah; Mr. Donald G. Jordan, U.S. Geological Survey, Atlanta; Mr. David Grigg, V.I. Public Works Dept.; Ms. Gwenellen P. Janov, © Attorney at Law, St. Thomas; and Mr. Robert E. Grimshaw, Executive Director, V.I. Water and Power Authority, Chair. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING In analyzing the functions and re- sponsibilities of the local agen- cies dealing in water resources, the Water Resurces staff at the V.I. Planning Office interviewed in order to obtain a complete picture of the water spectrum. Persons interviewed at the V.I. Housing Authority were Ms. Alda Monsanto, Executive Director; Mr. James Boschulte, Director of Pro- perty Maintenance; and Mr. Anthony Bo&s’chulte, Director of Planning and Development. The V.I. Housing Authority is re- sponsible for buying their own water. The local government is re- sponsible for providing the water and transmitting it to their bound- ary lines. The Authority must buy water from private well owners when water is not available from the public water system. Their units in St. Croix use well water in the public water system. Cur- rently, there is no water short- age in these units. The V.I. Housing Authority has received funds from the Community Development Block grant program for the development of six wells and a reverse osmosis plant on the East End of St. Thomas. TIPS FOR WATER CONSERVATION An alternative to continually in- creasing the supply of water is to reduce the demand. This can be accomplished through effective con- servation methods. Listed below are some hints for saving water inside the home. These suggestions were taken from a publication by the California Department of Water Resources. To save water in the bathroom: Take shorter showers Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket Don't let the water run while brushing your teeth. Rinse with a glass of water. Don't run the water while shaving. (a) (b) (c) (d) (a) To save water in the kitchen and laundry: (a) Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and clothes- washer. (b) If you wash dishes by hand, don't let the water run. Notice that even though these sug- gestions are very simple and require nothing more than a conscious effort by the water consumer, a significant amount of water might be saved. SMALL LEAKS, BIG LOSSES Small leaks add up to big losses. The surest way to prevent the loss of water or other liquids is to stop leaks. As figures here show, the cumula- tive effect of even small leaks can add up to large volumes. one drop in an hr. = 6 ozs. per second in a day = 1 gal. . & 1 pt. in a week = 8 gals. in amth. = 34 gals. drop break- in an hr. = 1 gal. ing to a in a day = 24 gals. stream in a week = 147 gals. ; , in amth. = 588 gals. 1/8" stream in an hr. = 11 gals. in a day =.260 gals. in a week = 1,512 gal in amth. = 6,636 gal s. Ss.