Sewage pouring into Belle Greve
A leak in an outfall pipe has caused sewage to pour into the sea just 1,000m off Belle Greve.
A leak in an outfall pipe has caused sewage to pour into the sea just 1,000m off Belle Greve.
And in echoes of an incident three years ago, Environmental Health was not informed about what was happening until yesterday morning, despite the problem apparently being known about months ago.
'Environmental Health has not been advised on how long the pipe has been leaking or the extent of the leak,' said a spokesman.
'Until the service has more information, it is unable to assess the implications of the leak or the effects of undertaking repairs.'
Public Services revealed yesterday there was a leak in the outer section of the Belle Greve waste water outfall.
There were strong currents there and the effluent was subject to natural marine processes, it said.
'The department's engineers and contractors are looking at the options for repairing the leak,' said minister Bill Bell.
'This may involve cutting out the damaged section of the pipe and replacing it. Remedial works will be carried out as soon as practicable but this will be heavily dependent on sea conditions as such work will involve diving in fairly deep water with strong currents.'
On Tuesday 21 September 2004 Enviroment Health officials warned about risks after raw sewage was discharged into the sea off the White Rock because of work on a pumping main.
Public Services was heavily criticised for not putting out a warning itself and for its lack of consultation.
Surfers Against Sewage has been persistent in calls for Guernsey to introduce full treatment.
Campaigns director Richard Hardy said the leak showed the system needed to be radically improved upon.
'When it's been in place so long, it's going to need continuing upgrade and maintenance,' he said.
'This is another visible reminder of the sewage issue in Guernsey and one that is closer to shore than I would imagine the discharge consent allows.
'The system is broken, effectively outdated and needs modernisation. SAS hopes this will serve to see that the States, at its meeting in October, delivers the full sewage treatment option that many islanders have called for.'
