news release
    13th Dec 2005

'DR LOO AND THE TURDIS' BACK FROM THE FUTURE WITH A SEWAGE STORY FOR GUERNSEY

Dr Loo in Guernsey - Watch Campaign Film Here

A blue police box materialised on the beach at Belle Greve Bay, Guernsey at on Friday 4th November 2005.

Inside the time travelling 'Tardis' (or Turdis as we call it) was a Dr Loo, some sick surfers and some giant size viruses, which had been brought back from the future to illustrate the problems the island of Guernsey could face if a full sewage treatment system is not introduced on the island.

The action was the latest step in a campaign from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) that called for an upgrading of the island's ageing sewerage infrastructure to fully treat sewage before discharge to sea. The island's sewage is currently discharged raw to sea each day.

Taking the time travelling theme SAS had dug around in the past and found Guernsey's bathing water quality was better overall 10 years ago than it was in 2005. Since 1996 the water quality at Guernsey's designated bathing waters has steadily declined with fewer beaches passing the higher EU water quality standard known as 'Guideline'. The proportion of bathing waters reaching the guideline standard has dropped from over 90% between 1996 and 1998 to just over 50% in 2004 and 2005. This means more beaches in Guernsey are only now passing the minimum EU water quality standard, which leading world health experts recognise as being hopelessly out of date. According to World Health Organisation experts those using bathing waters for recreation face a 1 in 7 chance of contracting a sewage related illness if they bathe in water complying with this standard.

Without full sewage treatment - the only solution to eradicating the harmful bacteria and viruses present in sewage - recreational water users and bathers face a worsening situation.

A trip to the future reveals new EU Bathing Water legislation set to get tougher from 2008 with the likely introduction of tighter water quality standards. Whilst this legislation is not binding for Guernsey it is the legislation the island's Environment department work to in classifying water quality at beaches. Without a significant investment in upgrading the sewerage infrastructure in Guernsey it will become harder to meet the improved standards and beaches could face the possibility of being further downgraded.

With people having more leisure time watersports are becoming increasingly popular and Guernsey has the wind, waves and tides to benefit from a growing interest in these sports. But with raw sewage being discharged each day in Belle Greve Bay only to then circulate the island with the tidal flow over a period of 5-6 days there remains an ongoing risk of illness to water users. Die off rates for viruses and bacteria in sewage effluent are slow, with viruses like Hepatitis A surviving for up to 100 days in seawater. Dumping raw sewage to sea and allowing the tides to take the waste out of sight out of mind is not a solution as tidal flow just moves the sewage in a slick around the island. If the sewage were fully treated before discharge to sea then there would be no risk and no slick. It would also provide reuse opportunities for the wastewater - a more sustainable solution in an environment where water is becoming increasingly precious with the onset of global warming.

Over the next few weeks it is expected that the Public Services Department and the Environment Department will publish a green paper on sewage. SAS welcome the States commitment to bring this issue to public consultation. SAS believe there is already a groundswell of public opinion wanting full sewage treatment. Over 2000 Guernsey residents signed an SAS petition in less than a month last year calling for full sewage treatment. With the government paper already delayed for almost a year it is vital this paper is published in the coming weeks to ensure progress is quickly made on the issue.

SAS campaigners completed their action in Guernsey by going into St Peter Port town centre to leaflet local people to get involved in the public consultation and have their say on shaping the island's future sewerage infrastructure.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaigns Director said: "It is clear that fewer beaches in Guernsey are meeting the higher (Guideline) EU water quality standard than they were in 1996. With bathing water legislation set to become tighter in the next few years the States will face some tough decisions if they hope to keep pace. SAS hope the forthcoming green paper will encourage reasoned public debate and lay the foundations for a sustainable, healthy and environmentally friendly solution."

For more information please contact Richard Hardy or Andy Cummins on Tel: 01872 555951.

Dr Loo in Guernsey - Watch Campaign Film Here

Back