For the past week we've been reporting on the dwindling water supply in the Fortis dam hydroelectric reservoir.
It's looking pretty shallow right now - and last week Fortis Belize CEO Kay Menzies told "X TV" - that theres enough water there for two and a half to three weeks.
Kay Menzies, CEO - FORTIS Belize
"From our point of view, we'll be producing for at least the next two and a half to three weeks depending on how BEL uses the water. Just as an explanation, it's a matter of how you use the water rather than how much water we have left."
"Yes, the reservoir is a little bit low. There's been a lot of usage. But it's the same way if you decide to empty a bucket with a big glass, it's going to empty faster than if you empty it with a spoon, right?"
"So BEL has been using the water in a way that they're trying to save us a lot longer. So when CFE is available, they're taking what CFE provides and that kind of thing. And the way they're managing it, it looks like more like two and a half to three weeks."
"We do have the data on hand for the entire life of the Challilo reservoir, and it has been lower than this. In 2012, it was lower than it is now, but it never ran empty. It never ran dry. There's no such thing because the river continues to flow."
"So, I mean, it would be really, really a much worse climate situation, and pray we don't see that, for those rivers to actually run bone dry and the reservoir not be able to have even a drop of water in it."
"We've never seen that. But the Rio Hon continues to flow, the Macal continues to flow. It's just flowing more slowly, and so you don't have the reserve basin of water, but you still have the trickle coming from the faucet."
"So, as I said, we've seen lower levels than we're at right now. And if the rainy season starts in a couple of weeks, then we're right back to where we were in terms of full output. We're confident that we'll be running for a little bit more."
"And if everybody does their rain dance and the rains come in June, then we should be all right."
That interview was conducted on May 23rd.
The current four day forecast does not call for rain.
