People in Jersey warned not to swim in St Aubin's Bay due to sewage issues

Swimmers are being warned against entering the sea at St Aubin's Bay due to problems at the Bellozanne Sewage Treatment Works (STW).

Jersey's government says "environmental and biological issues" means the "quality of the discharge is not at its usual quality."

It's thought the recent warm weather mixed with little rainfall and a lower than normal load arriving at STW has been a significant cause of the problems.

According to the Infrastructure and Environment Chief Officer, it means "higher-than-normal ammonia levels are entering the facility."

This means there's a "reduced concentration of organic matter" that the plant's bacteria needs to function properly.

It's unclear whether the issues with SWT will affect the swim at the Jersey triathlon on Sunday 18 June.

Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf, says: “We’ve adopted a precautionary approach and are awaiting the results of seawater tests which will tell us more about whether bacteria levels are up across the Bay. Further testing is going on today.

"We aren’t necessarily declaring that it’s dangerous to swim in the area, but we also cannot guarantee that there’s not an increased risk to swimming there.

"Until we can give that assurance, we ask that you please don’t swim in St Aubin’s Bay.”

Anyone who has swan in the sea recently and feels unwell should speak to their doctor or call the environmental and consumer protection switchboard on 445 808.

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