Health risks associated with sedimentation in Macal River

For years, the Belize Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (BELPO) has been against the operation of the Chalillo Dam in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of Cayo. Their concerns include the question of how long the dam will hold security measures and the health risks associated with the release of sedimentation into the Macal River. Candy Gonzalez, the President of the BELPO Board of Directors, recently reached out to several specialists when she noticed that the water was discolored, which indicates an increase in sedimentation. Doctor Guy Lanza of the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University in New York, responded with a letter addressed to Minister Lisel Alamilla. News Five spoke via phone to Candy Gonzalez of BELPO.

Via Phone: Candy Gonzalez, President, Board of Directors, BELPO

Candy Gonzalez

“Just recently, we’ve had a lot of rains and of course, the water comes down very muddy. But there’s a really different color to the water when sedimentation is being let out of the dam and the river was starting to look like there was a lot of sedimentation being let out of the Chalillo Dam. And I took some photos and sent them to a number of people, among them, Dr. Lanza and he responded saying that yes, indeed the color of the water indicated that we might have a sedimentation problem if they continued to release the sedimentation at a high rate. His concerns, both about the water quality, the lack of any responses to all of the requests that BELPO has made, asking for the results of water testing. It’s fine to have someone tell you the water is okay, but we wanna see the results of the water testing to know what they’re testing for, to know what the levels are and see if the levels of things in the water have changed.”

Delahnie Bain

“So this sedimentation issue, it’s a health hazard right?”

Via Phone: Candy Gonzalez

“Absolutely, it’s a hazard because the sedimentation creates what’s called turbidity and turbidity means that the water isn’t clear, it’s so clouded that you lose oxygen in the water and so the bacteria grows and there is no process of photosynthesis happening in the water. It’s not a healthy situation and the longer it lasts, the more dangerous it becomes because it allows for bacteria to grow in the water.”

Delahnie Bain

“So do you think that him, as a professional personally writing to the minister will bring you all any kind of results?”

Via Phone: Candy Gonzalez

“Well, the last time he wrote, it certainly brought a lot of attention and we did have some meetings. Belize Water Services came forward—I hope it brings result, I’m hopeful. If I wasn’t hopeful then I wouldn’t continue bringing this up and I wouldn’t continue always trying to bring it to people’s attention what’s wrong, I’d just sort of dig a hole and get into it. So yes, I’m optimistic.”