Sarteneja Unveils $2.2 Million Rehabilitated Water System

Residents of Sarteneja Village, Corozal District, now have access to a significantly improved and more reliable water supply following the official inauguration of a $2.2 million rehabilitated water system today.  The project was carried out by the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development and Local Government, in partnership with the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and UNICEF, with funding provided through a combination of PACT resources, UNICEF via the South Korean Fund, and the Government of Belize.  The upgraded system includes the installation of a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis plant, a high-capacity backup generator, and the full rehabilitation of the village reservoir and Waterboard office. To improve management and sustainability, the project also provided 250 individual water meters, a bulk meter to monitor village-wide usage, and new office equipment to modernize billing and record-keeping processes.  Minister of Rural Transformation Oscar Requena, who addressed the inauguration ceremony, said the investment is to improving the quality of life in rural and coastal communities through sustainable infrastructure.

Minister Requena emphasized that access to clean and reliable water is critical not only for public health, but also for economic activity and long-term community resilience.  The ceremony was also attended by Corozal Southeast Area Representative Florencio Marin Jr., UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist Dr. Olusila Oladeji, CEO Valentino Shal, PACT Conservation Investment Manager Robbin Burns, BWS Chairman Cornelio Acosta, along with members of the Sarteneja Village Council and Waterboard.