Wastewater Pollution Putting Belize’s Barrier Reef at Risk

A 2024 Mesoamerican Reef Report Card shows that more than one-third of Belize’s reefs are in poor condition, with over twenty per cent now rated critical. The report points to sewage waste and land runoff as major threats to reef health.

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, which coordinates reef monitoring in Belize, says water quality, especially untreated wastewater, continues to damage coral systems.

Improperly treated sewage and grey water introduce nutrients and pathogens into marine environments, fuelling algae growth, reducing oxygen levels, and stressing already vulnerable reefs.

At the University of Belize’s Hummingbird Analytical Laboratory, water samples from across the country are tested daily to track pollution levels. Laboratory Officer Zeida Franco-Leon says everyday household products leave a clear footprint in marine waters. “Phosphates do have an indication whether you have suds from soap that are running off, perhaps from home use, and also from agricultural runoffs,” she explained.

Environmental Officer Kenrick Gordon says wastewater management extends far beyond sewage systems. “From the banana sector, from the citrus sector, and from the hotels and resorts, all of those have to meet standards,” he said.

While agencies such as the Department of the Environment and Belize Water Services are working to improve wastewater management, conservation groups, such as the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, say individual action is just as critical. From how homes handle sewage to the products people use daily, those choices can have lasting impacts on Belize’s reef and the communities that depend on it.