Virgin Islands Water Resources Research Center Annual Technical Report, FY 2007

摘要

The United States Virgin Islands, USVI, is a Territory of the United States located in the Caribbean Sea consisting of four principal islands, Water Island, St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. Safe and sufficient water supplies have always been a major concern in these small volcanic islands where rain water harvesting, ground water and desalinated water currently are the principal water sources. In addition to the challenges of obtaining potable water in sufficient quantity and quality, disposal of wastewater is a major concern in the USVI's fragile environment where the tourism based economy is dependent on the pristine shorelines and nearshore areas. The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is a principally undergraduate land-grant and Historically Black College or University (HBCU) with a student population of about 2,500 students. UVI has campuses on St. Croix and St. Thomas and has an environmental research station on St. John. It is the only institution of higher learning in the USVI. UVI strives to be particularly responsive to needs of the economically, socially, ethnically and culturally diverse community through its academic, research and outreach programs. The Water Resources Research Institute (VI-WRRI) has been at UVI since 1973. It is part of UVI's Research and Public Service sub-component and receives guidance from a community based Advisory Council. Projects selected for funding through the VI-WRRI reflect water resources priority areas identified by this Advisory Council. Principal investigators on VI-WRRI projects are UVI personnel, members of the Virgin Islands community and collaborators from universities elsewhere in the nation. This annual report summaries the results of activities undertaken by the WRRI during the 2007-2008 program year.