Is San Pedro’s water problem resolved?

For the past two months San Pedro Town has been having significant water problems.  While the crisis was pronounced in the week leading into the Easter break and over that long weekend, it has been somewhat alleviated but not resolved. In fact, while the company in charge of supplying tap water to the island is trying to avert a similar crisis, there is no guarantee that the number one tourist destination will not be plunged into a similar situation. Marion Ali has an update.

Marion Ali, Reporting

A water shortage has been affecting La Isla Bonita since Easter. When we visited the island last Friday, Belize Water Services’ officials told News Five that restoring full portable water could take many months.  The problem is that the membranes that Consolidated Water uses to pump and treat the water before supplying it to BWS, have consistently been clogging due to sedimentation. Consolidated Water has had to do frequent cleaning and servicing of its membranes to avoid the problem from escalating out of control. Meanwhile, BWS is exploring the possibility of coming up with a contingency plan if Consolidated Water experiences a similar crisis and can’t supply treated water to meet the demands of the island.  Last Thursday BWS started to conduct twenty-four hour tests of its four salt water wells that were installed ten years ago under the previous Cascal Company.  These tests will determine if the water quality in BWS’ wells is better than the quality from Consolidated Water.  If that is the case, BWS has a small plant in Belize City which it can turn to in order to help with water supply.  The company has asked the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Health and the Hydrology Unit to do further testing to definitively determine what is causing the frequent clogging. Those results are due in two weeks time. All be told, it appears that the problem will take some time before it can be permanently cleared up. Marion Ali for News Five.