No to sewage treatment as outfall plans passed
CALLS to re-investigate full sewage treatment were dumped once more by the States yesterday, as deputies voted in favour of adding another £1.3m. to Public Services' outfall project bill.
An amendment for PSD to go back to the drawing board and consider full sewage treatment was beaten 33-11, after deputies disputed and rejected warnings from David De Lisle that the outfall system was polluting and breaking international standards and regulations.
'This flouts the absolute minimum standards the rest of Europe and a majority of the developed world adheres to,' Deputy De Lisle said.
PSD minister Scott Ogier was among those who defended the project and outlined the reason for the extra 7.7% rise in the cost to £19.9m.
Deputy Ogier said it was down to the new preferred option to build a new short sea outfall - one stretching further out to sea parallel to the new long sea-pipe - rather than replacing the existing one.
The minister said it had emerged that future water legislation could require further changes to the short sea outfall.
He said the cost of a retrospective fix would be much higher at £3m.-5m., and warned of the risk of failure with delay.
'When such a fail occurs the resulting pollution, publicity and reputational damage cannot reasonably be contemplated,' he said.
