BWS Challenges MICS7 Water Findings and Assures Public of Safe Supply

Belize Water Services (BWS) has issued a formal clarification following growing public concern over references to E. coli in drinking water contained in the recently released MICS7 Survey Report from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). The response comes just days after Love News interviewed the SIB on the methodology and national findings of the survey, an interview that has since sparked questions among consumers about the safety of Belize’s water supply.  In today’s press release, BWS emphasized that while it respects the importance of national data collection, the sampling and testing procedures used in the MICS7 study did not follow internationally recognized water-quality testing standards. According to BWS, the methods used for sample handling, collection, and testing were not designed to draw conclusions about the water quality of specific utilities, such as BWS, or about the national water system as a whole.  BWS stressed that none of the findings referenced in the MICS7 report originated from BWS’s treatment or distribution systems and therefore cannot be interpreted as reflecting the quality of water delivered through BWS pipelines.  The utility further underscored that it operates one of the most robust water-quality monitoring systems in Belize, testing water daily across all service areas using internationally accepted standards. These tests, BWS says, are independently verified each month through regulatory oversight by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Public Health Department.  In addition to regulatory monitoring, BWS participates in international proficiency assessments that benchmark its laboratory operations against global standards, an extra layer of verification meant to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its testing processes.  The company also reaffirmed its commitment to assisting national agencies, including the SIB, by offering technical guidance on proper methodologies for future surveys. The aim, the release notes, is to ensure that national-level reports more accurately reflect the performance and conditions of Belize’s water systems using scientifically reliable data.  The utility ended its statement by assuring Belizeans that BWS’s water “was and remains safe, reliable, and fully potable,” adding that the safety and confidence of the public remain its highest priorities.  The clarification follows a week of heightened public dialogue triggered by the MICS7 findings and the SIB’s explanation of its survey methods during a recent media interview.