Belize

 General Information

Belize faces significant wastewater management challenges that threaten both human health and its globally important ecosystems, including the Belize Barrier Reef. Only about 15% of the population is connected to piped sewerage, with most households relying on septic tanks or latrines. These systems often leak nutrients into groundwater and coastal waters, contributing to contamination and reef degradation. Rural communities remain particularly underserved, and small islands like Caye Caulker, a major tourism hub, still lack any centralized sewage treatment despite rapid growth and heavy visitor pressure. 

To address these gaps, Belize has established policy instruments such as the National Integrated Water Resources Management Act and created the Belize Wastewater Revolving Fund (BWRF) under the first GEF CReW project. The Fund successfully financed upgrades to the Belmopan sewer system, but lessons revealed the need for stronger governance, improved tariffs, and more robust technical capacity to ensure sustainability. 

Under GEF CReW+, Belize developed a draft Wastewater Policy, strengthened the Belize Wastewater Revolving Fund, and completed complementary studies for a new wastewater treatment plant in Caye Caulker, including technical, financial, and socio-economic assessments. These interventions are aimed to expand wastewater coverage, improve protection of freshwater and marine ecosystems, and built a stronger foundation for sustainable integrated water and wastewater management nationwide.