Select a region
There are no concerns about the water quality at St Aubin's Bay, according to the Infrastructure and Environment department – despite routine tests showing 'poor' levels of E.coli.
It comes after islanders were advised against swimming at Grève de Lecq last week following a high reading of 3,300 parts E.coli per 100ml.
This is over six times higher than the E. coli threshold for 'poor' water – which is indicated by a value of 500 cfu/100ml.
Pictured: The level of E.coli at Victoria Pool was 1,845 cfu/100ml.
In the same batch of routine tests, Victoria Pool returned an E.coli result of 1,845 cfu/100ml and E.coli levels at La Haule measured 518 cfu/100ml.
Despite both being categorised as 'poor', the Government did not issue a warning against swimming in either of these areas.
Following queries from Express, officers from the Infrastructure and Environment department explained that this was because follow-up tests at both south coast bays returned 'excellent' water quality levels.
However, these test results have not been published on gov.je as the interactive map is automated and only updates when the weekly routine test results are confirmed.
Pictured: Poor water is indicated by a value of 500 E. coli (Escherichia coli) per 100ml.
Officers said that tests on 16 May showed E.coli levels of less than 10 cfu/100ml at Victoria Pool and 110 cfu/100ml at La Haule – both below the 'excellent' threshold of 250 parts E.coli per 100ml of water.
Meanwhile, follow-up tests at Grève de Lecq showed 1,800 parts E.coli per 100ml of water – still firmly in the 'poor' category.
The Infrastructure and Environment department also explained that the briefly high E.coli levels at St Aubin's Bay were not concerning as it was clear what the source of the issue was.
Heavy rain on Monday 13 May – the day of the routine tests – resulted in excess sewage and dirt washing into the sea.
The rainfall also coincided with maintenance of the cavern, which is used as a storage tank for overflows of sewage and water from the main sewerage system during storms to prevent it from spilling out into St Aubin’s Bay.
Watch: Express was last year given the opportunity to explore the large underground void beneath Snow Hill known as the cavern.
The high E.coli levels at Victoria Pool and La Haule were therefore a short-term issue and washed away by the tide, according to officers.
In comparison, attempts to identify the source of the pollution at Grève de Lecq have been described as "inconclusive".
The next set of routine water quality tests at all island bays are due to take place today and tomorrow.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.