Cabinet Endorses US $10M Wastewater Project for Caye Caulker

Cabinet has given its endorsement for a loan to build a wastewater collection and treatment system in Caye Caulker Village. It will seek approval of the House of Representatives to enter into a “sovereign-guarantee agreement” for a US$10 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to fund the project.

Ervin Flores, resident consultant engineer at the Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL), explained that while the island currently enjoys potable water, “one of the major gaps that is affecting the island is the lack of a proper sanitation system, a waste water system.” He noted that current homes and businesses rely on septic tanks or small package plants, which do not provide centralized wastewater treatment.

The new system will use a vacuum pipe network to collect wastewater from homes and businesses and transport it to a modern treatment facility. Flores said the project will “collect the wastewater, treat it in a way that exceeds effluent standards, and all in the name of improving the environment, in improving public health, all of these issues that can develop in Caye Caulker.”

The total project cost is estimated at US$13 million, including the IDB loan, BWSL’s contribution, and a small grant component. Flores explained that the largest portion goes to building the infrastructure itself.

Implementation will begin with a procurement process of about six months to acquire the necessary equipment and infrastructure. Flores said, “Once construction begins, we are estimating a period of about three years…to construct the treatment facility…and to do that simultaneously with the collection system, which is a network of pipes. So, we’re talking about trenching on the road, installation of sewer mains.”

The project will initially cover only south Caye Caulker, which is the more developed area with higher water consumption and more customers. North Caye Caulker will be considered later with a potential nature-based solution due to budgeting and landscape restrictions. Flores explained, “We cannot do one system encompassing both islands. Because of physical reasons, we don’t want to install a sewer main across the Split.”

BWSL has held public consultations and says the project has community support from both residents and businesses.

Flores anticipates construction could begin in the first quarter of next year, after all government approvals and preparations are completed.