 The Environment Department regularly monitors bathing water |
Fewer beaches in Guernsey will meet water quality guidelines in future unless action is taken, an environmental campaign group has said. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) said water quality has worsened in the last 10 years. It is campaigning for a full island sewage treatment works.
It said while in 1996 some 90% of the island's beaches passed EU guidelines, the figure had now dropped to 50%.
The Public Services Department said all beaches met stringent EU standards.
'Worsening situation'
SAS warned that EU plans to make rules stricter in 2008 meant that more beaches could be downgraded.
It said without full sewage treatment to eradicate harmful bacteria and viruses present in sewage, recreational water users and bathers faced a worsening situation.
SAS campaigns director Richard Hardy said: "With bathing water legislation set to become tighter in the next few years the States will face some tough decisions if it hopes to keep pace.
"SAS hope the States' forthcoming green paper will encourage reasoned public debate and lay the foundations for a sustainable, healthy and environmentally friendly solution."
The Environment Department said it arranged for a strict and regular monitoring of bathing water quality and that such work was increasingly important.
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