Lido marked as safe for swimming

Thursday 13 June 2019

Havre des Pas pool has been marked as a safe spot for dipping again after swimmers were warned to keep away from the area due to sewage entering the water.

The initial warning came on Tuesday, following heavy rain earlier in the week.

The "deluge of rainfall", Environmental Health officials said, resulted in an "issue with the area's pumping station" that caused the area to become polluted.

While the pump was swiftly fixed, they urged swimmers to wait for the pool to refill a few times with the tide before taking a plunge.

Pictured: Environmental Health warned swimmers to avoid the Havre des Pas area.

Two days later, officials have said the pollution incident has now "passed" and are welcoming islanders and visitors back into the southerly lido's water.

A spokesperson said: "Environmental Health took the precautionary measures to advise swimmers not use the pool after the waste water pumping station at the Dicq was overloaded following recent periods of heavy rain. The excess very diluted water was allowed to flow from the station, along the outfall and into the sea for a short period of time. The station was fully serviceable, pumping at its maximum capacity.

"The ability to discharge excess water into the sea is a safety feature designed to protect inland areas and properties from being flooded with sewage when on the rare occasions surface water overloads the network.

"Officers from Growth, Housing and Environment are working with the Lifeguard service to update swimmers and beach goers on the situation."

Pictured: The iconic Havre des Pas pool recently featured in a new book listing the top bathing spots around the British Isles.

The recent sewage troubles happened just as the iconic Art Deco spot has been listed in 'The Lido Guide' - a book which recently reached the top of Amazon's best-seller list.

Speaking to Express, one of the guide's authors, Emma Pusill, described Havre des Pas pool as "an essential stop on the itinerary of any swimmer visiting the Channel Islands from the UK."