It's not safe to go back into the water!

Friday 26 June 2020

Islanders are being warned to stay out of the water in St. Aubin's Bay, following a slurry spill earlier this week.

Environmental Health officers have issued a statement this morning saying they have put 10 warning signs at entry points to the bay at the most popular areas for bathing between the Esplanade (Castle Kiosk) and Bel Royal Car Park - but if islanders choose to ignore them, then swimming in polluted water can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

The slurry spill began in Fern Valley on Tuesday, and officials were alerted by a call to the Pollution Hotline by Jersey Water. They are investigating the spillage as a potential breach of the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000.

This morning, Caroline Maffia, Assistant Director of Environmental Health, said:

"Officers from Environmental Health are checking the water quality across St Aubin’s Bay each day and will re-open the bay once we have confirmed that the levels of pollution are low enough to make it safe for the public. 

Pictured: one of the signs along St. Aubin's Bay

"We have also placed 10 signs at entry points to the bay at the most popular areas for bathing between the Esplanade (Castle Kiosk) and Bel Royal Car Park

"While the levels of sunshine experienced this week have a natural ability to kill bacteria, we rely on the natural motion of the tide to clear the slurry from the bay. This means the current big tides will help dilute the slurry, but it does make it difficult to estimate a re-opening date for the bay.

"I would urge the public to follow advice from Environmental Health and avoid St Aubin’s Bay. Swimming in polluted water can cause a range of health issues, including vomiting and diarrhoea.

"While we cannot directly enforce this instruction, officers from Environmental Health are advising Islanders to keep away from the bay, and especially not swim in the bay. I would urge Islanders to follow instructions to avoid the health risks to themselves and their loved ones.”

Government officials said that the incident was not connected with aerial footage of a brown fluid seeping into the bay on social media on Monday.

Video: Aerial footage showing the water muddied by brown effluent on Monday morning. (Dave Double/Facebook)

The footage has since been viewed by thousands of people, and shared hundreds of times.

Responding to the footage, Head of Liquid Waste Management Duncan Berry moved to reassure the public about the quality of the water being pumped into the beauty spot.

"The sewage treatment plant at Bellozanne is operating well and is producing a clear effluent which is compliant. Unfortunately, as the fresh water of the effluent mixes with the saline waters in St Aubin’s Bay there is sometimes a brown discolouration as the two water bodies mix. The effluent is regularly monitored to ensure it meets the required standards," he explained.