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.

SAS VICTORY!

Clean water commitment secured for Guernsey.

Campaigns are often long fought battles. Governments can be repeatedly reluctant to adopt new measures, even when there are huge advantages for the environment and public health, and the States of Guernsey were no exception. Since October 2004, SAS have staged 20 actions for the campaign, highlighting Guernseys appalling daily dumping of 65,000 peoples raw sewage directly into the sea.

SAS campaigned tirelessly to ensure Guernseys raw sewage problem was at the top of the political and public agenda, not to mention a major source of embarrassment for the island.

SASs relentless pressure, combined with great public and political support for our campaign finally resulted in a fantastic campaign victory for Guernseys water sports community! The States of Guernsey have committed to full sewage treatment for the island, ensuring cleaner and safer water and waves in the future.

Campaign Highlights

2004 - 65,000 peoples raw sewage on display to everyone flying into and out of Guernsey

2004 – After a packed public meeting with Guernseys water sports community SAS launched the campaign and delivered their demands to Minister Bell, Public Services Minister.

2004 - SAS hand in the 2nd largest petition (collected in just over a month) to Minister Bell.

2005 - SAS ensured Guernseys dumping of 65,000 peoples raw sewage was a national news issue and the hottest topic on the island.

2005 – SASs Dr Loo arrived on Guernsey to warn of poor water quality results in the future. A warning that came all too true!

2006 - SAS campaigners spent 65 hours on the steps of the States of Guernsey in record low temperatures. Campaigners were warmly received by the Guernsey locals.

2006 – SAS ended the vigil by launching a sewage counter tracking the billions of gallons of raw sewage and waste water dumped off Guernsey.

2007 - SAS highlight the States of Guernseys attempts to fudge the issue hoping well give up!

2007 – SAS meet all seaward bound visitors to Guernsey, ensuring they were made aware of exactly what Guernsey does with its sewage – dump it into the sea untreated!

2007 – Surfing zombies at a States meeting on Halloween 2007. We came within a couple of votes of full sewage treatment that time.

2008 - in the run up to local elections SAS towed the turd around the island calling on candidates to support SASs campaign. The majority of sheriffs supported the SAS campaign for full sewage treatment.

2009 - Finally SAS secure clean water commitment for Guernsey

Obviously this upgrade will not be done over night. The States of Guernsey need to find the type of treatment that best suits their circumstances. But we will be ever vigilant to ensure The States of Guernsey keep their word!

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