Beaches do swimmingly in bathing water tests

Saturday 04 June 2016

The Island's beaches got a clean sweep in the latest round of tests and you can take a dip in the sea at any of them.

Ten beaches did swimmingly and were rated excellent by Environment Officers for the quality of their sea water while Bonne Nuit was the only one classed as just 'sufficient' to reach stricter European bathing water standards.

Officers used the stricter new measures to test the water at each of the 16 Island beaches between May and September last year to make sure they were meeting European standards.

Havre des Pas, Green Island, Archirondel, Grève de Lecq, Plémont, Watersplash, Le Braye, Beauport, St Brelade and Portelet were all rated as excellent. 

Bouley Bay, Grouville, Rozel, Victoria Pool and La Haule were all classed as good.

Environment Minister Steve Luce said: “Jersey continues to show high bathing water quality and meet the new stricter standards that give better protection for bathers. The figures reflect my department’s efforts to raise awareness of the causes and impact of water pollution and which will be further addressed in the water plan which we’re going to consult on shortly.”

Visit Jersey’s CEO Keith Beecham said: “It is fantastic news that our sea water quality has passed the new standards. This will give confidence to tourists, as well as Island residents, that our sea is clean and a great attraction.”

Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Minister Lyndon Farnham said: “Good bathing water results are more than a ‘nice to have’.

“Our visitors consistently rate the Island’s beaches and countryside for their beauty and cleanliness and the bathing water figures are widely promoted through the UK.

“I think they send a message about what Jersey values and they’re one of a number of underlying factors in people choosing to come here.”