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Situation: Communities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands face severe pressure on their drinking water and aquatic ecosystems. Customized water management strategies are required to meet the challenges posed by the unique climate, geography and socioeconomic structures of these small Caribbean Islands.
Response: The USDA/NIFA Northeast States and Caribbean Islands (NESCI) Regional Water Center created an Islands Initiative focus area to facilitate program exchange between the Island and mainland Land Grant Universities in the region. Leaders at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and participating Northeast Universities work side by side to adapt water management practices to fit the needs of sensitive Caribbean ecosystems. The Island Initiative also provides a link between faculty and students at Hispanic Serving Institutions and regional and national projects based in the continental U.S. The following NESCI focus groups shared knowledge and program opportunities to address the Caribbean Islands’ most critical water quality issues:
New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center (NEOWTC) conducted extensive training in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to educate Island Extension staff and communities on best available practices and standards for septic system design, installation and management to ensure wastewater can be safely treated. In 2010, NEOWTC launched a 5-year comprehensive wastewater professional licensure program in partnership with UVI.
Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) efforts are reflected in the pilot NEMO program (working with University of Connecticut NEMO) on stormwater management in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico with focus on sediment losses, mainly from Island dirt roads, and control of non-point pollution to coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems. Geographical information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) trainings occurred to help document critical water resources and watershed risks on the Islands.
Sustainable Landscaping experts from Rutgers University trained staff at UPR and UVI on rain gardens and educational programs to control and treat runoff water. A pilot program to empower residents to take control oftheir water resources by installing rain gardens on their property is in development.
Small Farms Initiative focus area members are sharing their expertise with UPR and UVI to address the Islands’ 40 percent farmland, amongst the highest rates in the Nation. Proposals were submitted to evaluate the performance of small scale anaerobic digesters and study waste to energy options at small farms at UPR. Recommendations for horse manure composting will be based on the work and guidelines developed at Rutgers University. These efforts will work to minimize bacteria and nutrient contamination to local water resources.
On the Ground Results: The Island Initiative enabled the creation of programs and pilot efforts to improve and protect water quality on the Islands. The wastewater training plan will help build the capacity of local governments to manage septic systems to preserve water quality and biodiversity. UVI and UPR leaders are being brought to the table to discuss and craft regulations to improve water quality. These opportunities include: a draft storm water management plan in Puerto Rico; first-ever regulations in Puerto Rico for individual household septic systems; and the revision of regulations for composting animal waste. UPR and UVI programming in the community and amongst environmental professionals has been well received. With regional support, Island efforts are being leveraged with additional funding. For example, UPR received a grant from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to study septic system, dirt road soil loss and pollution from greenhouses in Guanica Bay. With support from the Northeast States, the Caribbean Islands are addressing sediment, pathogen and nutrient losses to improve and protect fragile Island resources.
