Nothing wrong with water bills says B.W.S.L.
These are not the best of times for Belize Water Services Limited. Since purchasing the assets of the Water and Sewerage Authority several months ago, the company has had to explain frequent water shortages in Belize City as well as make major repairs to the dangerously neglected sewer system in Belmopan. The latest calamity is a widespread public perception that water bills have risen precipitously since the privatisation, a belief that public relations officer Omar Silva says has no basis in fact.
Omar Silva, Public Relations Officer, B.W.S.L.
“It’s the same metre, same metre readers, same system. The people in there haven’t changed at all.”
Jose Sanchez
“One of the other rumours are that when air passes through the pipes, the metre continues to read.”
Omar Silva
“I don’t believe there is merit in those allegations. The metre is propelled with water and if there’s no water passing through, the air won’t…I mean we barely have pressure, what kind of air would pass through?”
Jose Sanchez
“Why do you think this issue has come about that people believe their bill is getting too big.”
Omar Silva
“I really don’t know. As I mentioned, we’re slow in getting out those bills in April because of the change over and the names and the different things.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is it a bigger billing period?”
Omar Silva
“No, if you receive a bill in May from April and then two weeks after you receive the other bill, it would be an accumulated amount and they would have there and it would look awfully tremendous. So I believe that’s what people are talking about. The other allegations have no merit at all.”
Silva says that if anyone wants to query their bill, they can do so at Belize Water Service’s customer relations department.
