"The situation is real and worrying"

Tuesday 09 April 2019

Environmental campaigners have welcomed testing to establish a link between a construction site and the marina it is alleged to have polluted during the development of a luxury apartment complex.

Officers from Environmental Protection yesterday carried out dye tracing - a process designed to identify if there is a pathway between the JDC's Horizon development site at the Waterfront into Elizabeth Marina and the wider sea.

Speaking yesterday morning, Tim Du Feu, Director of Environment Protection, explained: "The green dye used in the process of dye tracing may be visible in sea water in the marina today after this morning's high tide. The discoloration should be short lived, it is non-toxic to the environment and won't stick to boats moored in the marina."

Pictured: The dye at the construction site.

"The public shouldn't be alarmed if they notice any changes in the water colour during this testing," he added.

Since the test, campaigners from SOS Jersey noted green in the marina water, which they felt validates their concerns and makes the potential threat more tangible to the public. 

"[The tests] they show the public that the situation is real and worrying. Normally we find that if people can’t see pollution at sea they are less concerned," campaigner Dave Cabeldu commented.

Pictured: The dye could be seen in the marina area.

The investigation into alleged pollution, which the Environment Minister said is being treated as a criminal case that could result in a prosecution in accordance with the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000, was officially confirmed last month.

It was triggered by a call to the Environmental Protection hotline on 21 February.

Answering questions on the matter in the most recent States Assembly sitting, the Minister, Deputy John Young, revealed that there had been 81 other pollution incidents this year alone.