Point-of-Entry Ultraviolet Water Treatment Program in the US Virgin Islands: Final Program Results

AbstractUS small islands are at increased risk of water insecurity due to climate change compared to mainland communities. Utilizing multiple water sources can provide improved climate change resilience but may increase a household’s water management burden and risk of exposure to poorer quality water. In the US Virgin Islands, the majority of households rely on roof-harvested rainwater while supplementing with desalinated water provided by trucks or the municipal system. Given this potential managerial burden, Love City Strong conducted a 2.5-year water management pilot program to provide participants with an ultraviolet (UV) water treatment system, replacement parts, operational training, and water testing for one year. Preliminary data were reported previously; however, the program was completed in October 2021 having served 66 households and provided n=697 post-treatment water tests. The final data suggested 7.7% of post-treatment tap samples (5.8% without outliers) and 66% of cistern samples had detectable levels of E. coli. This data provides further evidence of the success of this water management pilot program and, along with previously published program component data, can be used to craft an island- or territory-wide water treatment and management program to support household access to potable water.