Record cesspit collections due to heavy rainfall

• Guernsey Water reports unprecedented cesspit collection levels in response to heavy rainfall.
• February on track to be the wettest month since 1978, leading to high demand.
• Emergency collections peaked at 65 in one day, with almost 10% of collections deemed emergencies.
• Customers advised to use the My Cesspit Portal for updates and check for possible leaks.

Guernsey Water has announced record levels of cesspit collections amid significant rainfall that struck the island.

The company reported that February is poised to become the wettest month on record since 1978, with detailed figures to be confirmed this week.

The continuous rainfall has created enormous pressure on the cesspit service, resulting in an unprecedented demand for cesspit collections.

Over week beginning 16 February, the cesspit teams completed a total of 4,422 collections.

This translates to an additional 295 collections.

Guernsey Water also registered the highest number of emergency cesspit collections completed in a single day that Monday, with 65 emergency callouts. That meant nearly 10% of all collections on that day were classified as emergencies, with 40 emergencies reported by 10:30 a.m.

Business Change Manager Andrea Simpson said, “The volume of rainfall we experienced placed exceptional pressure on the cesspit service, and demand rose very quickly as a result.

"Our teams worked extremely hard in difficult conditions to maintain the service and prioritise emergency collections, while continuing to support scheduled work where possible. We’re grateful to customers for their patience during what was a very challenging period.”

Some scheduled collections may have been rearranged to help.

Customers are encouraged to register for the My Cesspit Portal, which is a complimentary online service that provides real-time updates on individual cesspit collections.

Additionally, those who observed their cesspit filling more rapidly during the recent heavy rainfall are advised to contact a drainage company to inspect for potential leaks.