Guernsey Water discovers Fort George outfall discharging closer to shore than intended
- Fort George wastewater outfall discovered discharging closer to shore than designed after BBC shared drone photograph
- Investigation using drones, CCTV robot and dye indicates fault may be caused by break in inspection chamber
- Repair attempts planned when very low tides allow access to damaged chamber
- Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation informed and providing water quality advice
- Guernsey Water to provide update after repair attempt
Guernsey Water has discovered that the Fort George wastewater outfall is not discharging as far out to sea as it should.
The island's water utility was alerted to the issue when the BBC shared a drone photograph of the outfall, which revealed the fault.
Steve Langlois, managing director of Guernsey Water, confirmed the organisation immediately informed the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation after identifying the problem.
"During the course of a routine media enquiry, the BBC shared a drone photo with us of the Fort George outfall. When we reviewed it, it was clear the outfall was not discharging as far out to sea as it should," Mr Langlois said.
Guernsey Water worked with colleagues from Guernsey Ports to deploy teams to the location the following day. An aerial and underwater drone, CCTV sewer robot and specialist dye were used to investigate the fault.
The investigation indicates the problem may have been caused by a break in the inspection chamber partway along the outfall.
Access to the damaged chamber is only possible during very low tides. Guernsey Water teams, assisted by Guernsey Ports, will attempt a repair during these windows of opportunity.
"If it isn't possible, we will review our options to safely and quickly repair the outfall so it once again discharges further out to sea," Mr Langlois said.
Because of the outfall's current discharge location, wastewater will not disperse in the way the system was designed to operate. Guernsey Water has been in contact with the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation, which is best placed to provide advice on water quality.
The organisation has committed to providing a further update once teams have been able to access the outfall and attempted the repair.
Guernsey Water is the island's only water company, overseeing the collection, storage, treatment and distribution of drinking water to over 25,000 homes and businesses, as well as the collection and safe disposal of all the island's wastewater.
Q&A
Q: How was the fault discovered?
A: The BBC shared a drone photograph of the Fort George outfall with Guernsey Water during a routine media enquiry. Upon reviewing the image, it became clear the outfall was not discharging as far out to sea as it should.
Q: What caused the problem?
A: Investigation using aerial and underwater drones, a CCTV sewer robot and specialist dye indicates the fault may have been caused by a break in the inspection chamber partway along the outfall.
Q: When will the repair be attempted?
A: Repair attempts are planned for the end of this week and start of next week, when very low tides will allow access to the damaged inspection chamber.
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