Crews dump sewage into popular US Virgin Islands beach while it repairs plant

St. Croix diverts sewage to popular beach

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Crews are pumping sewage into the ocean at a popular St. Croix beach to prevent a spill in the town of Christiansted.

The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority expects to divert sewage into Long Reef for at least five days while it repairs faulty equipment. It warned people Tuesday to take precautions.

Officials say the wastewater would have overflowed into the main tourist town of Christiansted and surrounding areas.

Federal authorities won a court order requiring officials in the U.S. Caribbean territory to repair sewage plants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the waste management authority has dumped more than 50 million gallons (189 million liters) of untreated sewage into the ocean since January.