Year-round seawater testing considered - minister

Environment Minister Steve Luce said more people are swimming in the sea all year

Testing Jersey's seawater all year round is being considered after a recent pollution outbreak, a minister has revealed.

Environment Minister Steve Luce said he decided to take a look at the water testing situation after high levels of E. coli were found in Grève de Lecq in May, leading to a warning not to swim there.

He said water at 16 bays in Jersey were tested regularly between May and September, but he was asked by people why testing was not done every month.

Mr Luce said this had prompted him to consider doing year-round testing, but added it could cost "several thousands pounds" to conduct monthly tests.

The minister said water quality at Grève de Lecq had returned to an "excellent" rating and an investigation looking into the incident was ongoing.

Last month, Andy Jehan, the Constable of St John, said a partial blockage on an incoming sewer to one of the pumping stations was believed to be the cause of the outbreak.

People were told not to swim in the water in Grève de Lecq in May

Mr Luce said the number of people who swam in the sea all year had gone up since the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said this was part of the reason why monthly water quality testing was being considered.

But he added he would need to think about whether it would provide value for money due to the additional costs the tests would bring.

He said: "There's obviously quite a resource implication for me if I have to have people going in the water testing and having those tests analysed all the year round.

"There will be several thousands of pounds, I'm sure, of additional costs and I need to weigh up those costs against the benefit to the public."