Integrated Water and Sanitation Program for the Placencia Peninsula

BACKGROUND

The Government of Belize and Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL), with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB, the “Bank”) and the Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW) have entered into agreement for a program to support economic development and improve the quality of life of the residents in the Placencia Peninsula through environmental improvements.

What is the Integrated Water and Sanitation Program for the Placencia Penensula (IWSPPP)

The IWSPPP is a program for the design and construction of a wastewater system in Placencia Peninsular, Belize. The project seeks to increase access to wastewater management treatment in Belize through the development of a new sewerage collection and treatment system on the Peninsula

OBJECTIVES

The goal of the proposed project is to support economic development and improve the quality of life of the residents in the Placencia Peninsula through environmental improvements.

FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT

The design and construction of a wastewater system in Placencia will be achieved through three related agreements signed between the Bank, BWSL, and Belize:
1.    Integrated Water and Sanitation Programme for the Placencia Peninsula, Loan Contract 2486/OC-BL (BL-L1015) for US$5,000,000,
2.    Establishment of a Revolving Fund for Financing Water Projects in Belize, Grant Agreement GRT/FM-12724 -RG (RG-X1011) for US$5,000,000, and the
3.    Detailed Design of a Wastewater System in Placencia, a Non-Reimbursable Technical Cooperation Agreement ATN/OC-12456-BL, (BL-T1048) for US$500,000.
While each agreement has several project components, the project resources will be used to procure technical assistance to prepare the detailed design of the wastewater collection and treatment system based on recommendations of a feasibility study of design options undertaken by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), provide for customer surveys and a public awareness campaign, purchase of equipment and materials and construction of a sewerage collection and treatment and disposal system, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional strengthening. At the end of the program, loan repayments into the revolving fund will be used to support the development of other wastewater system located in basins that drains into the Caribbean.

PROJECT STRUCTURE

The project comprises of three phases, which include and overlap the different agreements and their individual components.
The first Phase is the Study which includes the USTDA funded study of the peninsular and the finalizing of the environmental study of the proposed project.  These reports and recommendation will guide the way in to Phase 2.
Phase 2 includes the detail design of the collection and treatment systems funded by the TC.  Also included is a public awareness campaign to sensitize the public and the residence on the Peninsular.
Phase 3 includes the construction of the collection and treatment systems funded by the loan and CReW resources.  

UPDATE ON THE IWSPPP

1.    The feasibility study that is being carried out by Halcrow and is scheduled for completion in February 2012.
2.    The period for the Expression of Interest has been closed.  The 22 submissions are being reviewed.
3.    Additional information is available on IDB’s web site: Project - Inter-American Development Bank

Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB, the “Bank”) for the detailed design of a wastewater collection and treatment system for the Placencia Peninsula. The resources of the Technical Cooperation Agreement will be used to procure technical assistance to prepare the detailed design of the wastewater collection and treatment system based upon the recommendations of a feasibility study of design options undertaken by the United States Trade and Development Agency, provide for customer surveys and a public awareness campaign.

Additional information on the project can be requested via email or mail to the address below.

Belize Water Services, Ltd.
Project Management Unit
Attn: William C. Lamb, Jr.
#7 Central American Boulevard
P.O. Box 150, Belize City, Belize, Central America
Tel: + 501 222 4757
Fax: + 501 222 4759
E-mail: IWSPPP.PMU@bwsl.com.bz