Upgraded Water Systems for Several Rural Communities
Oscar Requeña
According to the Ministry of Rural Transformation and Community Development, numerous villages across Belize are scheduled for improved access to potable water. At Friday’s House Meeting, the minister with responsibility for those portfolios, Oscar Requeña, explained the scope of works that are going to be tackled this year.
Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development
“We have the PACT Adaptation Fund. This is securing water resources through solar energy and innovative management systems. This is to a total grant of U.S. four million, nine hundred and seventy thousand dollars. If we are successful, Madam Speaker, we are hoping to ensure that we get water to Dolores in the Toledo District, Boom Creek in the Toledo District, Copper Bank in Corozal, Otoxha in Toledo. We are currently doing a technical review of the concept note and we are going to be sending this to Adaptation Fund and we are hoping that they will approve it so that we can get the work going to these communities. We’re also working through the Intra/ACP/EU Global Climate Change Alliance. This will see infrastructural upgrades of water systems in Santa Familia and Billy White. Both systems are using the river as the main water source with no source of treatment. The proposal is to install a filtration and chlorination system for these communities at a total cost of Belize six hundred, fifty thousand dollars. Through the Belize Social Investment Fund, the CARICOM Development Fund, we are looking at the rehabilitation of the following systems: Mahogany Heights at a hundred and six thousand, five hundred dollars; Georgeville in Cayo at U.S., a hundred and nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty-three dollars. For San Antonio, Toledo, this is an addition to what we are currently doing right now. That system is also going to be rehabilitated at a total cost of U.S., a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. These projects are at the stage where tendering for the execution of works should be completed by December 2021 and works should commence immediately to be completed by April of 2022. We’re also looking at other areas: Libertad, Concepcion in Corozal at a total of U.S., seven hundred thousand dollars. Works shall commence in September 2021 and shall be completed by May, 2022. In Bullet Tree, we want to continue to support that system; we want to expand the system that is there.”
Requeña says works are currently underway in the villages of San Antonio, Santa Rosa, San Roman and Crique Jute in Toledo, along with San Jose, Orange Walk. Those works are to either upgrade or replace the existing water systems. A second well is being drilled in Hopkins after that village’s water system collapsed and a first well did not yield sufficient water pressure to sustain the entire village. In addition, assessments are being made for the water systems in Mabil Ha, Mafredi, and Jalacte – also in Toledo. Meanwhile, the water systems in the villages of Estrella and Sarteneja, in Corozal, as well as Bullet Tree in Cayo have now been upgraded.
