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The Environment Minister has said testing has revealed St. Aubin's Bay waters to be "excellent" by EU standards in all but one "poor" location... but still says islanders shouldn't swim there.
The Government said these results have been communicated to the organisers of the Jersey Triathlon, who are yet to confirm whether the swimming element of the event will still be going ahead as planned on Saturday.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf – who said further testing would be taking place tomorrow – expressed "concern" about the poor quality of water found at First Tower, adding the water from the Sewage Treatment Works going into the sea, is still "not up to standard".
However, turning to other sample locations, he said: "I’m pleased to see that the repeat bathing water samples results have come back as ‘excellent’ on the EU Bathing Water Directive scale.
"They provide reassurance that although the quality leaving the Sewage Treatment Works isn’t of the standard we’d normally expect, the water quality in the bay generally remains high.
"This suggests that the water from the STW is being quickly dispersed and diluted in the Bay."
Video: Outflow in St. Aubin's Bay on Thursday.
Deputy Renouf labelled the advice to not swim as "precautionary", adding that the Infrastructure Department need to confirm that issues at STW have been resolved before removing the warning signs.
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet said: "I understand that people will be concerned, but I want to reiterate that this isn’t raw sewage going out into the sea.
"Our team at the Sewage Treatment Works are working incredibly hard, as you’d expect, to rectify the issues."
Test results have been communicated to the Jersey Triathlon organisers, which is due to take place on Saturday.
Dog walkers at St Aubin's Bay have been advised not to let them into the sea.
Islanders who have been swimming in the area and start to feel unwell should speak to their GP. The Environmental and Consumer Protection switchboard is also open for public health advice each weekday on 01534 445808.
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Excellent - less than or equal to 250 Escherichia coli (a type of illness-causing bacteria) per 100ml and less than or equal to 100 Intestinal enterococci per 100ml
Good - less than or equal to 500 Escherichia coli per 100ml and less than or equal to 200 Intestinal enterococci per 100ml
Poor - Poor water indicates values are above 500 Escherichia coli per 100ml and above 200 Intestinal enterococci per 100ml
Triathlon under threat amid sea sewage concerns
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