A NEW water treatment system could be built in the north of the island at an estimated cost of £5m. As part of its overall supply strategy, Guernsey Water wants planning permission to build a submerged membrane treatment works at its Longue Hougue storage reservoir site at Bulwer Avenue, St Sampson’s. It would be capable of handling 15m. litres a day.

The plan is to introduce into the treatment process there the same technology that has been pioneered at St Saviour’s Reservoir, said director of water services Andrew Redhead.

‘We know that it will do us a good job.’

This new facility would replace the ageing water treatment works at Juas which are in need of refurbishing – the 1970s equipment is becoming increasingly unreliable and prone to failure.

The water from Juas also occasionally causes taste problems. To resolve that, water is brought in from neighbouring reservoirs, with Longue Hougue being the major contributor.

‘The new works will be more reliable and more efficient and provide a better quality of water. It feeds mainly the north of the island, including St Peter Port and low-lying parts of the island.

‘Higher water quality will be produced more consistently and reliably.’

The preliminary design will later this month go to the Public Services Department for ‘final blessing’.

‘The new plant could be up and running in 12 to 15 months ‘subject to approval’,’ said Mr Redhead.

Most of the construction would take place within an existing building at Longue Hougue previously used to store pipes and fittings. This has now been moved to the centralised depot at St Andrew’s Reservoir.