The water at Soldiers’ Bay has been tested – after Guernsey Water admitted the Fort George outfall pipe was discharging far too close to shore.
The results of the water tests aren’t yet known – but Tobin Cook, Director of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation, said it will give them a better understanding of the risks when they get the samples back.
“Following recent concerns that were raised about the risks posed by sewage in the sea at Soldiers’ Bay, we’ve taken a sample and are awaiting the results to understand the water quality in the bay.
“We will assess the sampling results when they are available so that we can have a better understanding of any risk posed.”
Mr Cook and his team acted after Guernsey Water was alerted to a fault with the outfall pipe that pumps raw sewage into the sea off the east coast.
The utility was shown drone footage of sewage being discharged in the wrong place.
It is supposed to be pumped out further than it currently is, but a break in the inspection chamber partway along the pipe means the sewage is entering the sea much closer to shore than intended.
Guernsey Water was not aware of this fault until it was pointed out.
“The footage clearly showed the outfall was not discharging in the right place,” said the utility.
“We immediately reacted, contacting colleagues at Guernsey Ports who provided a boat and two drones – one aerial and one underwater – so we could inspect the outfall the very next day.
“When on-site, a specialist sewer CCTV robot and dye were used to help us determine just what was going on and causing the issue.”
Guernsey Water said the issue was a break in the inspection chamber partway along the outfall pipe.
“We are going to inspect the chamber and attempt a repair when the tide is low enough to access it, which may be the end of this week or early next week.
“If that is not possible, we will review our options as to how to quickly and safely carry out the repair so the wastewater once again discharges further out to sea.
“Because of where the outfall is currently discharging, the wastewater won’t disperse in the same way as it is designed to.”
There has been no official advice shared telling people to avoid the area, but Guernsey Water asked people to share the information with people who swim at Soldier’s Bay.
