Guernsey

The Problem

Guernsey discharges all its sewage raw to sea everyday. Through 3 outfalls positioned on the east and south coasts 65,000 people's sewage is discharged. The main outfall at Bellegreve discharges the bulk of this through a long sea outfall into the Little Russel, just to the north of St Peter Port.

Guernsey is hugely popular for recreational watersports and has well established, sailing, surfing, windsurfing and rowing clubs. The island's tourist body actively promotes the beaches and watersports available in Guernsey as a selling point yet water quality on the island can be very poor at times. Studies show that Guernsey's main discharge at Bellegreve creates a plume that moves anti-clockwise around the island with tidal flow. Because there is no treatment of the sewage, bacteria and viruses can survive in that effluent plume for many days, sometimes weeks and so this represents a huge health threat to those using the water for bathing and recreation.

The Solution

Guernsey's sewage should be fully treated before it is discharged to sea. Neighbouring Channel Island Jersey has a UV disinfection treatment plant that has been fully treating the island's sewage since the early 90's. This move has helped make the island a hugely popular tourist resort using its 'clean and safe water' as a key selling point.

Related Articles

12th Feb 09	Campaign Success For Surfers Against Sewage, Great News For Guernsey's Water Users
10th Feb 09	Deputies given water quality reminder by surfers
27th Jan 09	Surfers support deputies amendment to the wastewater charge in Guernsey
16th Jan 09	Surfers support a wastewater charge in Guernsey
25th Sep 09	Sewage is a Guernsey today issue, not one for Guernsey tomorrow!
24th Apr 09	SAS go 'Turdabout' in Guernsey
17th Apr 09	Over Half Of Guernsey's Election Candidates Want Sewage Treatment Improvements!
3rd Apr 08	Election candidates questioned over sewage by SAS
1st Oct 07	Surfers left frustrated by lack of progress on full sewage treatment in Guernsey
3rd Sep 07	Port Protests Held Over Guernsey Sewage
28 Jun 07	Guernsey 'Fudging' Sewage Treatment Decision
3 Mar 06	Clean and safe water for Guernsey
27 Jan 06	Surfers delighted to win some political support but its 'States' commitment thats needed if a rerun of 1997 isn't to happen
25 Jan 06	60 hour sewage vigil by SAS finishes in Guernsey
24 Jan 06	Surfers 60 hour sewage vigil underway at Guernsey's Government Buildings
21 Dec 05	Petition for Clean and Safe water for Guernsey
13 Dec 05	'Dr Loo and the Turdis' back from the future with a sewage story for Guernsey

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