Are There Concerns of Sewage Leakage Near University Hospital Land?

 

The location of the proposed University Hospital to be constructed in Belmopan continues to be a concern for both the public and governmental bodies. Initially, the hospital was to be built on the University of Belize property, but that was ruled out as an option by government officials. On Friday, Minister of the Environment, Orlando Habet, told us that an assessment would be conducted on the property purchased by the Government of Belize., the question of whether the smell or possible leakage is a risk for the safety of the hospital was raised, since there are sewage treatment ponds located near the land. Here’s what Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai had to say.

 

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, D.O.E.

“Well, I’m not sure. We haven’t received anything in the D.O.E. I haven’t been given any details of the project per se, so it’s difficult to say. And I’m very cautious about basically giving an opinion on something that I don’t have critical information on. The way the Department of Environment works is we use scientific information to guide our decision, and only through the use of data can we give such an input. So at this point I’m not too sure. So I’ve read that there is the potential, possibility, likelihood, and danger of seepage of sewage ponds. And obviously there are different types and so forth.”

 

Reporter

“You’ve never had any such concern from that particular one?”

 

Anthony Mai

“Not from that particular one. I think a component of that project is concrete in terms of funds. I know that an upgrade, we granted environmental clearance for an upgrade a couple of years ago, maybe five, six years. The upgrade included the installation of I think a dry bed. And I think they lined one of the ponds and they also included UV light for disinfecting the waste before it goes into the environment. So there have been some improvement to that facility over the years.”

 

Reporter

“You know how big they are?”

 

Anthony Mai

“I can’t say from the top of my head, but we have the data in the office in terms of the size of the pond.”