Prison Changes Water Use After Contamination Findings

Water contaminated with fecal bacteria was being used at the Kolbe Foundation Central Prison to pre-wash food, including vegetables and meat, and for inmates to bathe, according to a Ministry of Health and Wellness inspection carried out last year. The findings prompted the prison to immediately change how water is used at the facility.

The Ministry completed its inspection in mid-September 2025 after assessing three separate water sources on the prison compound. The report concluded that only water supplied by Belize Water Services (BWS) was safe for human consumption.

Testing of the prison's well water revealed the presence of fecal coliform bacteria, indicating contamination. The report also found that several chemical measurements exceeded acceptable limits, making the well water unsuitable for drinking or food preparation.

The Ministry could not recommend the well water for use because of the contamination. It found that the well water had been designated for hygienic purposes such as flushing toilets, washing, and bathing. However, testing also found elevated chemical levels that could cause skin irritation.

The Ministry recommended that Belize Water Services water be used for all drinking and cooking by inmates, prison staff, and the prison hospital. Bodden acknowledged that, at the time of the inspection, well water was also being used to pre-wash vegetables before food preparation.

According to Acting Chief Executive Officer Francis Woods, the prison implemented the Ministry's recommendations as soon as the report was received. He said the facility increased the amount of BWS water available to inmates to five gallons per person for drinking, washing clothes, and bathing.

The inspection has renewed attention on conditions at the prison and the responsibility to ensure inmates have access to safe water. Although the report was completed in September last year, its findings have only recently come to public attention. The disclosure comes as the prison has been under increased public scrutiny following the recent dismissal of its chief executive officer, although no link has been established between the two matters.

The Ministry's report documents that contamination was identified, recommendations were issued, and the prison says corrective measures were taken. Whether those measures continue to protect inmates and staff will likely remain an issue of public interest.