Assessment of Water Quality among Handwashing and Drinking Water Stations in Schools in Belize, 2022

Abstract

Water quality assessments are critical for ensuring timely responses to water-related concerns, particularly in low-resource areas with limited water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. In collaboration with the Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, we conducted a survey on WASH infrastructure and resources among 221 schools. We identified 65 schools across all six districts of Belize for water quality testing. Among these 65 schools, 83% had at least one water sample that did not meet the WHO’s recommended free chlorine residual level for drinking water. Additionally, coliforms and Escherichia coli were detected in at least one drinking or handwashing water sample from 43 (66%) and 14 (22%) schools, respectively. These findings underscore the importance of routine water quality testing in schools to inform timely public health responses.