FEW topics generate as much concern as Guernsey’s pumping sewage directly into the sea and there are few islanders who do not think that something as inherently unpleasant should be stopped and replaced with a full treatment facility.

That view has been reinforced by the high-profile campaign waged by Surfers against Sewage, whose very visible stunts drive home the message that sea dumping of effluent is abhorrent.

So it is to the credit of Public Services that its team took a contrarian look at the issue and asked, in effect, what all the fuss was about.

In other words, why do people think it’s such a filthy thing to do?

For that view to stand as a meaningful judgement, there would have to be some adverse consequence on the environment, on the marine habitat particularly and specifically on the island’s bathing waters.

But put to rigorous, independent tests, no damage is being caused by the current disposal method and upgrading it to a ‘full’ treatment system at an initial capital cost of up to £55m. would provide no tangible benefits.

In fact, it might be seen as a retrograde step because, quite apart from the cost, it would be energy intensive, worsening the island’s carbon footprint, and leave the problem of what to do with the resultant sewage sludge.

PSD has accessed industry-leading experts whose client list is impressive and includes the UK’s Environment Agency. Their views that, with some minor changes to the way current discharges are handled, the existing form of sea disposal treatment is acceptable from a health and environment perspective have been exposed to scientific rigour.

In short, the conclusions are correct and should be heeded.

Millions of tonnes of material are dumped into the oceans annually through natural erosion, river discharges and land runoff and a small amount of human waste into the large volume of the Little Russel is, the scientists say, of no consequence.

More significantly, spending millions on a ‘better’ treatment system would not improve anything either.

PSD’s ‘do nothing’ (apart from the minor improvements) report should end the sewage controversy once and for all.