Jersey’s Waste Treatment Facility Garners Praise

Jersey’s recently completed sewage treatment facility is garnering commendation for its waste management processes and its role in “protecting the environment”. The £80 million facility, situated at Bellozanne, commenced operations last December. It now incorporates, for the first time, a storage unit capable of containing up to a two-month supply of both solid and liquid waste. Improvements to the site began in 2019, with numerous components of the facility originating from its initial construction in the 1950s. Upon its opening a year prior, the government characterized it as “state of the art” and a “remarkable piece of engineering”. The newly constructed storage shed represents the concluding phase of the undertaking. With a capacity of 1,400 tonnes, it proves particularly beneficial during winter, mitigating the environmental hazard associated with storing waste on fields. Following treatment, the nutrient-rich waste becomes suitable for agricultural application on crops. Previously, solid waste was incinerated due to a lack of storage capacity; its current reuse offers a more environmentally friendly approach. Duncan Berry, representing the infrastructure department, stated: “Without the sewage treatment works we would have a lot of pollution in St. Aubin’s Bay.” He added, “You would probably see fish floating, you would see detritus in the bay. We are very lucky Jersey has invested a significant amount of money in our sewage treatment facilities.” Berry further commented, “It’s a massive improvement…fit for purpose.. a lot more energy efficient than the old plant and will treat to higher standards.” The storage unit incorporates an odour control system designed to minimize emissions, forming an integral component of the comprehensive upgrade. Additionally, enhancements to the pipe system managing surface water have been finalized, enabling it to direct untreated rainfall runoff from roofs and gutters directly into the sea. Proponents of the initiative are now focused on connecting the maximum possible number of island residents to the mains sewage system. Andy Jehan, the current Minister for Infrastructure, remarked: “What we have to do now is to get more product here, so connect more people to the mains sewers,” He continued, “I think there are some areas that will probably never connect because of their rural location but there are many areas that you would expect to be connected that currently aren’t, and that’s where are focus is going to be in the coming years.” Readers can follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas may be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.