| What if, the libations for partying on your long | | | | Rum Runners Steaks & Seafood, known for |
| awaited vacation became the only liquid to flush the | | | | weekly hermit crab races. |
| commode with? | | | | The population of 50,000 on St. Croix relies on cistern |
| Saturday, 10:00 a.m.; Bob and Sandy haven't left the | | | | storage and rain catchers of the rare rainfall on this |
| pool during waking hours except to refill the | | | | eighty-four square mile island. Groundwater and |
| refrigerator with beer. Two hundred and ninety | | | | desalinization are the main sources of potable water. |
| pounds of Bob jumped into the pool creating a wave, | | | | The daily water demand for this island alone is |
| sloshed over the deck, and drenched parched agaves | | | | approximately 3.2 million gallons per day and |
| below. By the time we arrived everyone was | | | | production is around 4.2 million. Another half a million |
| clamoring, "
don't flush the toilet." The remaining | | | | comes from groundwater. Fortunately, twenty-three |
| hundred gallons in the cistern may be all for what | | | | million gallons of storage capacity exists on the island. |
| remained of vacation. | | | | The entire Virgin Island Territory demands 5.5 million |
| Nine to twelve mile an hour winds continue in the | | | | gallons of water. The desalination plants, according to |
| August heat that helps the 78% humidity index keep | | | | studies completed as far back as 1979 by the Virgin |
| the temps around 70 degrees. Ten minute, late night | | | | Islands Water Resources Research Center, can |
| rains tend to leave rain catchments areas agape. | | | | supply about 75% of that demand. The study also |
| Days are uneventful, except when you run out of | | | | revealed the cost for desalting seawater was at |
| water. Showers can't be taken, food can't be | | | | least $15 per thousand gallons. Further research was |
| cooked, and toilets, well, go without flushing. | | | | completed in l977 when the islands were owned by |
| Water isn't something to take advantage of on the | | | | Britain. This study with low-flush toilets revealed costs |
| islands. An average of forty inches of rainfall drops | | | | were lower and 36,500 gallons of water were saved |
| on the semi-arid Virgin Islands annually and ninety | | | | as a result in a year. Although the government pays |
| percent is lost to evapo-transpiration. Water is scarce. | | | | for the bulk of water received, insures its quality and |
| Jerry and Susie reaffirmed their vows. It was my | | | | distributes it, along with land, tax and customs |
| first Caribbean wedding and trip to the islands. I was | | | | exemptions, costs beyond that fall on the consumer. |
| in a party of eight. Two of them were Bob. Debbie, | | | | Residents and resorts pay about three cents per |
| Jerry's daughter and her husband Bob, Sandy, her | | | | gallon for water pumped into their cisterns, not |
| co-worker and her husband "Big" Bob, Chris and Matt, | | | | including delivery charges and emergency service calls. |
| Debbie's sons; Jerry's grandsons, and myself and | | | | Water suppliers request a week notice for water |
| daughter, Alyssian. I was the fifth-wheel and spent | | | | delivery, but no later than three with a surcharge |
| my time with the younger set at the Coral Bay Reef | | | | attached. Some resorts require servicing more than |
| Resort about two miles from the other members of | | | | two times a day, dependent on the demand. |
| the group. They rented an entire house with a pool. | | | | According to an article written by Peter Weber in the |
| From that vantage point we could see St. Thomas | | | | November - December 1991 issue of World Watch |
| across the ocean waters when the condensation | | | | only the world's elite get their water from the sea! |
| beyond the reef didn't shroud the view. | | | | Serving these "elite" are the world's 7,500 desalting |
| On the third day of the visit breakfast was on Deb | | | | plants that reaches a capacity of 3.9 million acre-feet |
| and Bob. We drove the rolling hills through the rain | | | | per year; less than one-tenth of one percent of the |
| forest out to the northern coast and took a sharp | | | | world's water use. |
| right up a steep, winding dirt road to the rental house | | | | Those who don't live on islands take water for |
| for the first time. Brown, pyramid-shaped, shingled | | | | granted. It is quite a conundrum being surrounded by |
| rooftops, three total, loomed overhead around the | | | | water and experiencing "water scarcity". Treat |
| last bend like something out of an Egyptian dream. | | | | yourself and join the "elite" by taking a trip to the |
| The house appeared to float on a cerulean | | | | U.S. Virgin Islands. But, if you plan to jump in the pool |
| background. The open door of the "L"-shaped layout | | | | a lot make sure you schedule water delivery ahead |
| beckoned us to enter onto cool tiles. Contemporary | | | | of time. You'll find yourself fortunate to get water |
| iron and glass furnishings, overstuffed sofas and | | | | without notice and on a weekend, as we did. |
| wicker further bid us to welcome while the stereo | | | | I joined the elite on the cheap; $530 airfare and $250 |
| played Steve Miller. I was lulled into a seventies mode. | | | | for a week at the motel. No passport was needed at |
| There were three bedrooms, two of which had open | | | | the time, but you should prepare, by 2008 you'll need |
| baths with thriving gardens. A baby grand sat in one | | | | one. More information on the subject can be found |
| of them and many French provincial antiques were | | | | here: |
| scattered around the house. | | | | See this site for an instant webcam. Set a day and |
| I wanted to grab a beer and get in the pool. An | | | | time to be at the boardwalk, tell your friends and |
| empty hose dangled over the side, the cistern top | | | | family and they can get a live shot of you on the |
| was sitting on the deck and about ten inches of | | | | island. |
| water sat patiently waiting in the bottom. The pool | | | | More information is available at the following: |
| was half-full. As the caretakers bantered with Debbie | | | | Water Resources Research, Institute |
| and Bob over the water situation we waited and | | | | University of the Virgin Islands |
| waited for water delivery. | | | | # 2 John Brewers Bay, St. Thomas |
| We were lucky. The caretakers lived in the lower | | | | U.S. Virgin Islands 00802-9990 |
| apartment. Without their help the gang would have | | | | Tel. (809) 693-1063. Fax (809) 693-1074. |
| been dry the next four days unless they chose to | | | | E-mail: |
| flush the beer down the toilet. The caretakers | | | | Seven Seas Water Corporation |
| pointed to a house on southeast hill and told | | | | 6200 Frydenhoj, Suite 4 |
| everyone it used to belong to Bill Murray ("Ghost | | | | St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802 |
| Buster"
Bill Murray). What an exciting footnote. | | | | Phone: (340) 775-6607 |
| We were in the company of celebrities. They weren't | | | | Fax: (340) 715-0003 |
| surprised at the pool incident. It happened before. | | | | Cane Bay Reef Club |
| On a trip the next day into Christensted on the | | | | PO Box 1407 Kingshill |
| eastern end of the island, I found a "Traveler's tree. | | | | St. Croix USVI 00851-1407 |
| It is said to store one gallon of water at the base of | | | | (340) 778-2966, 1 (800) 253-8534 |
| each frond. When travelers roamed the islands years | | | | Joe Scirto, Owner |
| ago and found themselves thirsting they could turn | | | | Rum Runners Steaks & SeafoodBoardwalk |
| to this tree taking solace in it's hidden water supply. | | | | & Caravelle Hotel |
| This one is four blocks west of the boardwalk by | | | | Christiansted, U.S. |