Some parts of Guernsey may be flooded with foul water after manhole covers were lifted by today’s heavy rainfall.
Guernsey Water is working with other organisations to try and clear the affected areas – such as at Les Baissieres in St Peter Port where it’s suspected sewage could be running through the flooded road.
A spokesperson for the utility told Express that people should “not walk or drive through the storm water that you’re seeing” as it may be dangerous.
While the public are being asked to avoid these flooded areas, workers are heading for them with some specifically looking to reset the loose manhole covers that may not be visible to passersby.
“Currently teams are out in multiple locations re-setting manhole covers that have lifted,” said the Guernsey Water spokesman.
“That storm water you’re seeing maybe the result of a manhole that has lifted, and you might not see so. We’re taking lots of calls and deploying our resources accordingly to get through them. Some are the result of the foul water network being overwhelmed, and that means the water may contain sewage – making it a health risk. Currently we are only aware of this in Les Baissieres, and we’ve had the road closed as an emergency. Our teams are currently onsite.”
Guernsey Water said its pumps are running at full capacity to try and clear the excess water and the break in the rain that started at around 15:00 has given this an extra chance of success.
“The drainage system is overwhelmed,” acknowledged the utility’s spokesman. “However, with the break in the rain and all our pumps across the network running at full capacity, that level will drop.
“More rain is expected overnight, so please heed our advice,” he added.
Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service, Guernsey Police, States Works and Traffic and Highways Service are all responding to various issues relating to the heavy rainfall too.
Guernsey Police said there have been reports of surface flooding in different places across the island.
Some roads are being closed while others that are partially flooded may remain open.
“Services across the public sector are responding to these various areas and prioritising the most urgent matters to see what can be quickly cleared,” a spokesperson said.
They said that Guernsey Water and the island’s Joint Emergency Services Control Centre are being “inundated” with calls from members of the public.
“We’d ask people not to call in for matters relating to this unless it is an emergency, so that we can continue to coordinate work to clear blockages and flooding and only deal with urgent or emergency calls,” said the police spokesperson.
“We’d also ask people to not drive into flood water to chance getting through, as at the moment a number of areas are impassable with very deep water, and we’re aware that there are a number of cars that have already become stuck in standing flood water.”
By 16:00 the worst areas for localised flooding were said to be at Les Baisseres, Pont Vaillant, Route de la Ramee, Talbot Valley, and the roads around St Andrews Church.
Other people have shared flooding reports from where they are including homeowners in Arguillers Lane and Commercial Road in the Vale.
Guernsey Police said where possible people should stay off the roads while the situation is dealt with.
“If your journey isn’t urgent or necessary, consider whether you need to head out on the roads at the moment.”
