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Marty Offline OP
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The Government of Belize is planning to invest $50 million in the Belize Water Service Limited for an expansion project that will see water and sewer services introduced to northern Ambergris Caye. The announcement was made by both San Pedro Town Mayo Daniel Guerrero and Belize Rural South Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr. during a consultation meeting on Tuesday, November 22nd at the San Pedro Lions Den.

The two political leaders made the announcement in response to two questions raised about the island's waste management at a public consultation regarding the Ambergris Caye Land Use Development Plan which is a project under the Sustainable Tourism Project. "Having the proper infrastructure is very essential as this island grows. There is a $50 million investment for the expansion and infrastructural development of the water and sewer system for the north of the island which will be forthcoming next year. This has been in the planning stage for some years now, and we are finally pleased to say it has been approved as a project proposal. There are already some work being done, which includes a number of studies to develop the concept material. In addition, we have already looked for and identified the land that will be needed for the sewer ponds. Physical implementation will take some more time, we estimate a maximum of two years, but it is a proposed project that Cabinet has agreed upon," Heredia announced.

The proposed project will see water and sewer lines expanded from the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge and as far north as the Costa Maya Resort area, a distance that is approximately six and a half miles long. The area that the proposed project will impact is already seeing rapid development, including construction of multimillion-dollar megaresorts. According to Heredia, having seen the multimillion- dollar investments made by the private sector, the Government of Belize (GOB) is committed to investing monies in an effort to improve the tourism image of the island.

Local residents have long debated the GOB's investment priorities for the island, especially for those living in the areas that lack basic infrastructures, such as San Mateo. When questioned about the fact that one of the poorest areas in the country sits in the backyard of some of these mega developments that GOB intends to give an infrastructural boost to, Heredia said that it's just a matter of time before San Mateo sees some help. In addition, for about five years now, Belize Water Service has installed sewer lines in the Boca del Rio area. However, residents in the area have been unable to connect to the public sewer system because of the lack of additional sewer pump stations in the area.

"San Mateo is in the plan with the infrastructural expansion that will be made around the Town Core areas. We plan to tap into the $50 million dollars to improve the water and sewer in areas such San Mateo, San Pedro and DFC as well as up north. The proposed project will see the construction of sewer ponds, the installation of main water and sewer pipelines for over six miles. However this infrastructural expansion project will not be taken into subdivisions that are not developed. This water and sewer project will have to run within the official government declared road," said Heredia. The Minister said that before the end of December, proper electricity will be expanded to the San Mateo area, which he hopes will usher other infrastructural development for those area residents.

As for the road expansion project for the northern part of the island, Heredia explained that Cabinet has accepted a proposal to endorse the current road survey being conducted as an official road for the northern part of Ambergris Caye. That proposal is for the official roads to run parallel with the Belize Electricity Limited's power lines. "None of the roads that we currently have and use are declared roads. We have taken a decision that we will use the defined pathway utilized by BEL to run their power lines, to develop as the declared road. If we don't do that then we will have all sorts of roads leading us to nowhere."

Before the proposed water and sewer project can be implemented, GOB must 'declare a road" so that the water and sewer pipelines can run parallel along the road. There was no indication from Heredia where GOB will access the $50 million from and if the proposed project will be reflected in the 2014/2015 financial year.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun


Joined: Mar 2003
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What about from the High School to the bridge where there's no sewer despite putting up with a year of digging up the road prior to it being paved?

Joined: May 2000
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Phil, you don't want city sewer up your way if the stench coming from the vent pipes south of town is anything to go by.

North of the bridge sewer is not really required except in San Matteo and they could deal with that by using large aerobic septic systems.

Any new construction north of the bridge should be required to use aerobic septic systesm...these can be purchased already manufactured or can be custom built using cbs.

Sewer installation planning will just be used as an excuse for more delay on construction of proper roads. Smelly sewer vent pipes would not be an asset north of town. Installation of sewer is much heavier and more complicated work than that of water pipes and of course there is no return on investment as BWS doesn't charge for sewer.

BWS could easily start putting in revenue producing water pipes to the north of the island at the same time as the declared road survey is being done...and thereafter the road could be paved. If there's 50 million to be spent on proper island infrastructure let's spend it soon and use it for necessary stuff, before it all gets stolen......

Joined: Dec 2006
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I don't think you have anything to worry about, read this closely and see if you think water and sewer are imminent or if we just have a couple of politicians spouting off promises.


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Joined: Mar 2003
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Yeah Chris, I can see that. We have the road and I often think of you asking for one up North with the same thought process - be careful what you ask for. If it was up to me and I could go back and swap it for the bumpy swamp at this time of year I'd do it in a heartbeat. From quiet sleepy fishing Town to a Formula 1 race track at times in one fell swoop!! Why not add smelly sewer vents too.

Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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Click map for larger version
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60 million dollar water and sewerage expansion project planned for North AC

In October of 2013, The San Pedro Sun broke the story that the Government of Belize (GOB) is embarking on a project to design and construct a water and sewerage system on north Ambergris Caye. That project was unveiled to the residents of Ambergris Caye on Thursday January 30th at the first of several planned consultations. The project will see the installation of a second water and sewerage system for the northern portion of the island, a total of 15 kilometers north of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge to Blue Reef Island Resort.

The budget for the construction is US $30 which is a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) facilitated through the GOB. GOB has appointed Belize Water and Sewerage Limited (BWS) to be the executing agency for the project. It is geared to enhance the quality of life for the populace and visitors on the northern portion of the island, protect the fragile ecosystem and the Barrier Reef system and support the tourism package on Ambergris Caye.

BWS has retained the services of Dillon Consulting Limited, who awarded Detailed Design Services for the design of the water and sewerage facilities. According to Bill Allison from Dillon Consulting Limited, the proposed project makes provision for a reverse osmosis desalination water treatment facility, sewage treatment facility and approximately 15 kilometers of linear infrastructure for water-mains, sewers and 15 waste treatment pumping stations. The water and sewage line will run along the official northern road that the San Pedro Town Council and Belize Electricity Limited are working on.

The project is expected to address the massive growth experienced on the island over the past few years. From a population of about seven thousand, the island now has bustling community of over 22 thousand permanent residents and workers combined. But while the project is welcome news for the tourism industry stakeholders, especially the resort owners, it is not the same for the almost 600 residents of San Mateo. That is because, while the project is massive, it excludes San Mateo, a community whose natural water system has tested positive for high coliform content.

Even though San Mateo is not being included, BWS Resident Consultant Engineer Federick Sandiford indicated that a main sewerage line outlet will be placed at the entrance of area. That will provide for the future installation of a sewerage system in San Mateo when and if funding is acquired. Sandiford said that for the immediate future, residents will see improvements in the quality of water distribution in San Mateo, since BWS recently gained control of water distribution in the area.

The North Ambergris Caye Water and Sewerage project is in its conceptual stage and currently various studies are being carried out for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, after which a first draft of the project will be developed. That first stage is expected to be completed by May 2014. A detailed draft design of the project is expected to be completed by October, at which point another consultation will be held with stakeholders and members of the public, when the Environmental Impact Assessment will be presented. A final design with adjustments following the input of the public is expected to be complete by December. If all goes as planned, the project will be up for tender by January 2015 and by March 2015 a construction contract will be awarded. The project is expected to be completed by 2017, in time for the next general election.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun


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Be nice to know if BWS will finish the roubabout to bridge sewer and water main project they started two years ago and failed to complete.

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How about just a real road with proper ditches and drainage.Not even paved just a nice gravel road. Seems to me some one has the cart before the horse here. What good is sewer and water if you can't get to your property to use it anyway because of the mud hole road !

Joined: Oct 2000
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Why wouldn't San Mateo get this infrastructure also??? That area is more populated and in dire need of electricity and water/sewer.

Joined: Oct 2000
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So they're going to put a sewage lagoon in the midst of what they're about to(?) designate a marine reserve (Cayo Francis/Mata Reserve.) Makes sense...

What with a long legacy of shortsighted, idiotic and ill-conceived undertakings, you'd think it'd be hard for the power that be to trump some of the really poor decisions of the past decade.

Guess not.

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