The newest seawater reverse-osmosis desalination facility in the US Virgin Islands was officially opened on 21 November 2013.
Seven Seas Water constructed the 2.2 MGD (8,300 m³/d) facility located at the Estate Richmond Power Plant on St Croix in just under one year for Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority (WAPA), marking the beginning of a new 20 year public-private-partnership.
In 2009, WAPA experienced equipment failures at the Richmond facility and Seven Seas Water deployed 12 containerized SWRO systems on a fast-track basis providing a total of 1.5 MGD (5,680 m³/d), to mitigate water shortages. The containerized systems will remain in operation, bringing the total capacity delivered on St Croix to 3.7 MGD (14,000 m³/d).
The opening follows that of a new 3.3 MGD (12,500 m³/d) SWRO land-based facility in August 2013 on St Thomas at the Randolph E Harley Power Plant.