DEPUTIES have been given a clearer picture of the problems facing the island’s sewage infrastructure. Members were shown around the aging Belle Greve headworks on Saturday, before this month’s debate on three reports by the Public Services Department. And they also took a look over the sea wall at the century-old outlet at the Red Lion, through which sewage will be diverted during maintenance work and in emergencies if the States agrees to interim measures.

Public Services minister Bill Bell said the idea of the visit was for members to see the proposals on the ground.

‘It’s difficult to make an assessment from a piece of paper, so going on-site and seeing the situation is helpful,’ said Deputy Bell.

About 15 deputies took advantage of the visit.

‘I think they were extremely interested and used the opportunity to be better informed. We visited the pumping station, maceration plant and where work is already going on to produce the alternative route out of the plant if we need to do maintenance,’ said Deputy Bell.

‘It was low tide, so we walked across the road to see where the pipe went out to sea and will have to be used on occasions.’

He stressed this would be used for only a matter of hours.

The department is asking for £1.46m. to undertake survey and interim work at Belle Greve – in the end upgrading the headwork will cost around £16m.

It is also recommending carrying out a marine survey over five years to find out what effect pumping sewage out at sea is having on the environment before any decision is made on building a complete treatment plant. And the States will also decide whether to bring in a waste water charge that would help get rid of the cost disparity between those on main drain and cesspit.

Chief Minister Mike Torode is a former president of the Public Thoroughfares Committee, which Public Services replaced. ‘I’m fairly knowledgeable about the machinery down there, but I wanted to refresh my memory and see if there were any great changes. It’s a case of being better informed ahead of the debate.’

He added that the biggest problem facing the States was the public’s perception, rather than any real problem when the facility was working properly.

The effect of strong sunlight and seawater around one-and-a-quarter miles out to sea sterilises the very dilute sewage, he said.

‘I don’t know what road Guernsey will go down,’ he added.

The department estimates that to build a plant would cost around £50m., but Deputy Torode said that was on the conservative side.

* The department is holding a public meeting on its three reports on Friday at the Cambridge Room, Beau Sejour, from 7pm.