Havelet water rated poor in most recent test

The most recent water quality test results at Guernsey's Havelet Bay have been rated poor, according to the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation (OEHPR).

It follows the revelation that a sewage outfall close to Havelet has been faulty, leading to sewage being discharged near the shore.

Critics said they were "shocked" at the situation and more infrastructure investment was needed.

OEHPR director Tobin Cook said there was "no direct evidence that the water quality at Havelet was related to Soldier's Bay" and the best measure of quality was the four-year average, which for Havelet was "excellent". Guernsey Water said an outfall pipe was being replaced.

Earlier this year, Deputy Andy Cameron raised concerns about the outfall pipe, which takes sewage from Fort George to Soldier's Bay.

Guernsey Water only discovered the pipe at Soldier's Bay was faulty after the BBC shared drone footage of the outfall discharging waste closer to shore.

Cameron has put pressure on OEHPR to put up a sign near the outfall to deter swimmers from going near the pipe.

In a statement, Cook said, out of 13 areas rated by the OEHPR, eight were rated excellent in the four-year average, including Havelet and Fermain, with the rest meeting or exceeding the required standard.

He said: "Seeing the occasional weekly result that doesn't meet the required standard is not unexpected and we would be more concerned if we were seeing results consistently below this, which is why we continue to monitor results.

"Weekly results at the Ladies' Bathing Pool and Fermain, which are closer to Soldier's Bay, were rated excellent over the same time period.

"Recent results from Soldier's Bay have only shown one poor rating, with the rest being compliant."

The most recent test at Havelet was on 7 July.

According to the OEHPR: "Thirteen of Guernsey's beaches are tested every year against standards conforming to the EU Bathing Water Quality Directive 2006."

The directive sets standards for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci.

These pathogens are tested for because they can show whether water has been contaminated by human or animal faeces and if it might contain harmful pathogens that could make people ill.

Swimmers at the Bathing Pools told the BBC they were stunned at the news the latest water quality result was categorised as "poor".

Marina Burr, who runs the Blue Tits swimming group, said she was "absolutely shocked" and believed water quality issues were linked to the broken outfall.

Swimmer Burr said she had been keeping an eye on the water results since Guernsey Water confirmed the pipe was faulty.

Reacting to the poor water quality result at Havelet, she said she felt ashamed.

She said: "It makes me think, when people come and ask me where do you want to go and swim, do I tell them about Havelet.

"Investment needs to be made it's going to get any better. If there's a break in or a crack in the poo pipe as we call it, you can't just leave it because it's going to get worse and it has to be addressed."

Sean Slattery, who swims at the Bathing Pools every day, was equally critical of the latest results: "They shouldn't be just dumping it in the sea full stop. It's disgusting."

For the last three weeks, Zoe Murphy has been swimming at Havelet to train for the upcoming Castle Swim.

She said: "It's disturbing, especially when I've only just started swimming again."

Murphy added she had taken to keeping her mouth closed during swims.

In a statement, Guernsey Water capital delivery manager Carl Falla said: "Teams from Guernsey Water and the Guernsey Ports dive team used the Sarnia workboat last week to attend the outfall, where the divers carefully removed the damaged section of pipe and took it to the surface and onto the boat.

"It has since been moved to Brickfield House, where it will be measured and a new pipe fabricated.

"Guernsey Water and Guernsey Ports are currently assessing the earliest possible feasible time for the new section of the pipe to be installed and will keep the public informed."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.