A new water system for Crooked tree village in the Belize district will be inaugurated on Saturday morning. The new water system, which will greatly improve the living conditions of the villages' eight hundred residents, was completed at a cost of one point two million dollars. It is one of the largest projects of its kind, and sixty five percent of the investment came from the Belize Rural Development Program as a grant from the European Union's Development Fund. The Government of Belize contributed about twenty two percent of counterpart funding for the project, while the residents of Crooked Tree contributed sweat equity in the trenching for the installation of the pipes. According to an official release, the scope of works on the project included the construction of a twenty thousand gallon ferro-concrete elevated tank, reinforced for earthquake resistance, a pump house, submersible pump with chlorinator unit and transmission and distribution lines. Training was also provided for those who will manage the system. Saturday's inauguration ceremony is scheduled for ten o'clock in Crooked Tree village.

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Crooked Tree Gets Potable Water

Crooked Tree Village may be only thirty four miles away from Belize City but today is the first time the residents who live in one of the country's oldest settlements will have access to water. No more will they have to rely on the use of hand dug wells. The new water system was inaugurated on Saturday. It is one of the largest projects of its kind.

James Dawson, Chairman Water Board
"This is a very important thing to Crooked Tree because we always have the dry season and we always have the flood that contaminates the water in Crooked Tree and the other thing I want to tell the people of the village is that this water system is going to benefit all of us in that the rate that we are going to pay, I believe will be cheaper than what you use for the pump. It is going to be approximately about $30 the connection fee and about $10 flat rate. It is a three trial fee. $10 flat rate would be for like 1,000 gallons of water and half a cent for each gallon after during the three month test. There will be adjustment if necessary."

The Crooked Tree Water System was implemented by the Social Investment Fund and the community of Crooked Tree through funds from the European Union and the government of Belize.

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