Heavy rain causes record cesspit collection demand

Guernsey Water has said it is dealing with "record levels" of cesspit collections after "exceptionally heavy" rainfall last week.

The company said its cesspit teams completed 4,422 collections last week - 295 more than the previous week.

It said sustained rainfall in February put "significant pressure" on its cesspit service with February on track to be the wettest on record since 1978.

The team also recorded the highest number of emergency cesspit collections completed in a single day after dealing with 65 emergency call-outs, it said.

Business change manager Andrea Simpson said the firm dealt with "difficult" weather conditions and prioritised emergency collections as well as doing scheduled work where possible.

"The volume of rainfall we experienced placed exceptional pressure on the cesspit service, and demand rose very quickly as a result," she said.

The company, which looks after 5,500 cesspit customers, advised those who spot their cesspit filling more quickly than usual to contact a drainage company to check for possible leaks.

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