2 days ago
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The Ministry of Health and Wellness has responded to concerns about the quality of water being used by inmates at the Belize Central Prison. As a matter of fact, a recent assessment does include some cautions on the well water and other water sources. This new round of concerns stem from a public-health inspection conducted in September 2025, which reportedly detected fecal coliform in well water on the prison compound. That water had reportedly been used for food preparation, washing, bathing and flushing waste. Chief Health Officer Dr. John Bodden says the ministry conducts regular monitoring at the prison through a specialized unit responsible for inspecting institutional facilities. He also explained that the compound uses more than one water source, with potable water supplied for human consumption and well water used for other purposes.
John Bodden, Chief Health Inspector: “Through the National Drinking Water Quality Laboratory we have ongoing monitoring throughout the country for various different types of testing on water that are used for consumption by the public. And so with that we do testing on a periodic basis at the location to ensure that there is compliance with the standards that is required by the Ministry of Health. And so that inspection was conducted on the 15th of September and from that report we saw that there were still some concerns in terms of the water quality that is at the source, that is used as the source for water at the Kolbe Foundation. There are three different types of water that is actually used at the Kolbe Foundation. They have the reverse osmosis, there is well water and there is the BWS water. Of course the one that are suitable for consumption is from BWS and that is recommended and that has been used for drinking. The well basically has been used for preparation of food and washing and then we have the reverse osmosis is used only for toilets and for bathing and so. So this was found during the inspection and assessment done at the facility. The well water that was actually tested positive for fecal coliform and so with that we would not recommend that that be water that is safe for use. Whiching we were reminded that this water is from the well and this is used for only hygienic purposes which was basically for flushing the toilets, washing and I think for bathing and so we had not much concerns about the well water initially when we looked at the well water because it was just for bathing. Not withstanding that we still had a bit of caution expressed on well water because of the high nitrates which would have created some level of irritation on the skin. We had made some recommendation for them to ensure that there is adherence to the use of the water which we are in total agreement with. The BWS water should be for drinking. That is done for the inmates, the staff and the hospital and pretty much cooking with the exception of when they do the pre wash for vegetables which they use the well water. That is the situation where we find ourselves. The Ministry continues to monitor. In fact we had sent out the officers today again to do a resampling and hopefully those results are better than what we’ve had before.”
Acting Kolbe Foundation Chief Executive Officer Francis Woods previously said the prison responded to the ministry’s notice by increasing the daily potable-water allocation provided to inmates. According to Woods, each inmate now receives five gallons for drinking, bathing and washing clothes. Woods said well water continues to be used for flushing toilets, while potable water is allocated for personal hygiene and consumption. He also linked the initial response to reports of inmates developing skin rashes after bathing with the well water. The Ministry of Health has not publicly indicated whether subsequent testing found the well water free of fecal contamination. However, Bodden says monitoring of the prison’s water sources forms part of the ministry’s ongoing public-health oversight.
English (US) ·