Introduction

1. This Central American country borders Guatemala, Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Belize is located at 17.15 N, 88.45 W. Belizeans have plenty of surface and ground water resources. Many areas in the north and south have porous sediments that allow groundwater to permeate throughout the land. Sometimes groundwater can be contaminated with high concentrations of chloride, especially in areas along the coast. Water supplies suffer mostly in the dry season when freshwater can not recharge the groundwater supply (FAO, 2012). Today the majority of the Parliamentary Democracy government is occupied by the United Democratic Party. They are focusing on improving foreign debt, unemployment, and crime rates, as well as working to protect the environment. The government is also trying to crack down on the South American drug trade and the spread of HIV/AIDS (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, 2011). Belize’s main exports are cane sugar, citrus, bananas, and seafood. Hurricanes pose a problem for the agriculture industry at times, and the shrimp industry has been declining since 2005. Tourismis shown to be one of the most profitable businesses in the country, due to the climate, pleasant fishing, boating opportunities, and jungle wildlife (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, 2011). The 2012 report of economic freedom ranked Belize at 61.9, where 100 would be absolute economic freedom. Corruption is common, but it is relatively normal for this region. Strict regulations discourage foreign exchange and entrepreneurial activities, making private sector businesses difficult to obtain (The Heritage Foundation, 2012). Introduction Climate and Weather The main use of water in Belize is for industrial processes, whereas Mexico and Guatemala use the majority of their water for agriculture. 70% of water used in the urban areas of Belize is surface water. Only about 30% of water withdrawal is fully purified, which occurs in urban Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) systems (FAO, 2012). Water Availability and Use There is a high risk of the following three waterborne diseases: -Bacterial diarrhea: a bacterial disease that causes watery or loose stool, which can lead to dehydration. -Hepatitis A: a viral disease that causes fever, jaundice, and diarrhea. Symptoms can last for 6-9 months. -Typhoid fever: a bacterial disease causing sustained high fevers. Mortality rates of untreated victims have reached 20%. Belizeans also run a risk of contracting leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that passes to humans through contact with water contaminated by animal urine. Victims can have symptoms including fever, headache, jaundice, vomiting, and diarrhea (CIA, 2009). These waterborne diseases contribute to the death rate of 5.87 for every 1,000 people in Belize. The infant mortality rate is 21.95 for every 1,000 live births in the country (Index Mundi, 2011). Waterborne Diseases Flooding Flooding is an issue that Belize has been struggling with throughout history. The Caribbean storms and hurricanes that sweep over Belize annually do not always lead to flooding, but have done so many times. When the nation becomes flooded, clean water can be scarce. This is because the flood usually causes the sewage system to not function properly and pollute the ground water supply. The flood water brings up sewage matter and not only pollutes the land, but also their water supplies. Floods can also bring in other sources of pollutants to ground and surface water, including domestic and industrial waste, chemicals from industry, and much more (CIA.gov, 2012) An organization known as NEMO(Belize National Emergency Management Organization) uses various methods to predict and prepare for adverse weather and flood threats. They use GIS and various types of weather instruments to predict weather intensity and places most susceptible to flooding. Based on this information they also prepare guidelines that citizens should follow before, during, and after a flood/storm. As the map to the left shows, much of Belize is in danger of floods annually. In fact, of the 263 populated cities in Belize, 163 (62%) of them are at flood risk during the rainy season. These cities are located within 39 river basins and 18 major watersheds (rimd.org, 2009). Conclusion As a developing nation, Belize is doing very well in the areas of sanitation and access to clean water. The majority of the nation has access to clean water and either improved or unimproved sanitation services. Despite this progress there obvious issues that hinder Belize from reaching the sanitation and clean water access level that a developed nation would have. Though much of the nation has the benefit of clean water, keeping it clean is still a struggle. Solid waste from landfills and sanitation services seep into the ground, polluting groundwater sources. This pollution is worsened by the rise in tourism and by adverse weather conditions. International aid is provided to alleviate the pressure of preserving groundwater supplies. The addition of more wastewater treatment centers in all areas of Belize would benefit the nation. Adverse weather conditions, such as hurricanes, bring threats of flooding, which the country has always struggled with due to its location. Caribbean hurricanes sweep the nation every year and citizens must prepare themselves for the worst, a flood. Flood waters sweep across the land bringing everything with it including trash, human waste, industrial waste, and much more. This makes flood water a pollutant to both ground and surface water. Belize’s NEMO makes continuous efforts to educate its citizens on flood management, and with the aid of GIS and weather systems it strives to protect its water sources Water Pollution from Solid Waste The overall climate in Belize is subtropical, with an average humidity level of 83%. However, this humidity is barely noticeable due to coastal winds from the Atlantic Ocean. (Belizenet.com 2012) In terms of seasons, there isn’t a dramatic fluctuation in temperature as the months change. November to January tend to be the cooler months, and January to May are the dry months. The main land temperatures vary from 50°F to 95°F. The southern mountainous region has an average temperature of 72°F , but this can also get much lower. Due to the rain-shadow effect, the mountainous region also receives more rain that the main land. (Belizenet.com 2012) Over the last 40 years, there has been an increase in access to drinking water for all three countries. The biggest change was in the rural areas, with at least 50% of each population gaining access to drinking water over these decades (Pacific Institute, 2009). One of the biggest problems that Belize faces is the pollution of fresh water from solid waste. The country produces a total of 200,000 tons of solid waste each year, which is relatively low for this region. This waste is the result of overflowing landfills and lack of sanitation facilities in rural areas. Landfills are not separated properly from the domestic soil, which causes leaching of pollutants into groundwater. Most of the rural population uses pit latrines and septic systems, which can seep into the lake, ponds, and rivers. Many people use these rivers and wells to obtain clean water (Young, 2008). Solid waste pollution only gets worse as tourism increase in the country. Over 800,000 tourists visited Belize annually in 2004, and this number is growing. Wastewater facilities are only available in three cities (Belize City, Belmopan, and San Pedro), which means a large portion of Belize can not send their sewage to a treatment plant. Since there is no waste disposal facility in these tourism areas, this mass amount of sewage can easily leech into the water supply (Young, 2008). Sewage pollution not only affects fresh water supplies located inland, but it also affects the aquaculture located along the coast. Pollution of potable water threatens the health of those who use it, degrades the mangrove areas, and contaminates the barrier reef. Some efforts have been made to improve the situation, such as the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which has helped protect the fresh water supply in order to reduce the waterborne diseases that can be spread through these sources (Katz, 1989). As seen in the graph above, Belize has decreased the amount of areas with open defecation (relieving of bowels in an open area instead of in a sanitary facility). Developing proper landfills and enforcing regulations on disposal of solid wastes would help also the situation (Young, 2008). The combined effort of the rural population, wastewater management, and Belizean government could alleviate this pollution problem. Water Access and Sanitation NREM 211 - Water Resources Chelsea Smith and Nimisha Krishna Belize • Worldatlas, 2012