Cistern Chronicles

The Issue

In much of the U.S., access to safe, reliable, potable water is a given. But in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), it’s a daily challenge, shaped by rainwater catchment systems, underground cisterns for water storage, power outages, and fragile infrastructure.

During my time in USVI, I’ve led outbreak responses that have allowed me to observe a pattern: poor water quality and management can quietly fuel outbreaks from dengue virus to Legionnaires’ disease to lead exposure. These health threats are all preventable with strong public health interventions that rely on practical solutions and messaging that reflects reality on the ground.