Water levels rising along river banks in Belize River Valley
The National Emergency Management Organization in an advisory on Wednesday indicated that the water levels along the banks of the Macal and Mopan rivers were up to two feet above normal and rising. The Belize River had risen by six feet. The advisory continued by saying that in the village of Lemonal by the Governor Creek culvert, there was six inches of water across the road with the Crooked Tree Lagoon rising and running off into Black Creek, Spanish Creek, Black Burn, Mexico Creek and Muscle Creek which filters into the Belize River. And today, it was evident the Belize river has become muddy with its levels above normal. News Five headed to the Belize River Valley and spoke with Vice-Chair of the Lemonal Village Council, Olive Banner who says that while they had not experienced any flooding, they are prepared.
Olive Banner, Vice-Chair, Lemonal Village Council
“We have been experiencing rain from Sunday, but the road is still passable.”
Duane Moody
“Your anticipations…is it going to rise even higher?”
Olive Banner
Olive Banner
“Well if it continues to rain, most naturally yes.”
Duane Moody
“Is the village council prepared for whatever evacuation is needed…hurricane preparedness?”
Olive Banner
“Yes we are prepared.”
Duane Moody
“We cannot forget that in 2008, water had risen really high and houses were under water. Does the village have that fear that this would happen again?”
Olive Banner
“Well it could happen and we don’t know so we are prepared at all times.”
Down south, the Dangriga water system was affected by tropical depression number two causing contamination to the well and breaks in its distribution lines. Similarly the flood waters affected the systems of Sarawee and Hope Creek and other low lying areas. Since then, the Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) in Dangriga has managed to treat the water being distributed, put the system back on line, and repair major breakages in pipe lines. However, there are still some areas in Dangriga that remain with flood waters and recontamination of the water system is possible where minor leaks exist and goes undetected. In order to control the health risk, the Public Health Department is continuously monitoring the situation and collecting water samples from Dangriga, Sarawee and Hope Creek water systems for testing.
