No plan to connect cesspit users to mains drainage

There are no plans for Guernsey cesspit users to be connected to the main drainage system before 2040 despite a planned increase in water bills, the water authority has said.

Guernsey Water's investment plan has said an increase in water bills will mean reinvestment in the island's infrastructure but this does not include more connections to the sewerage network.

The company said the immediate plan was to maintain existing services and refurbish drinking water storage sites. It said it did not "expect any funding to be available for sewerage extension before 2040".

Some islanders with cesspits have expressed their disappointment the rises will not mean connection to mains sewerage.

Steve Langlois, managing director of Guernsey Water, said the company had to deal with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure, population growth and climate change and further improvements would mean a steeper increase in bills.

He said: "We could include extension of the sewerage network in that plan as well, but that would be asking customers to pay around an extra 10% on their bills."

He said the island's long-term interests were at the forefront of a £130m investment over the next 12 years.

"At the current time there are no immediate plans to put cesspit users on to the main drainage system," he said.

Debbie and Paul Rouget live in St Sampsons and have two cesspits for their property. They said they were disappointed there were no plans to connect them to mains sewerage.

Mr Rouget said: "I'd like to see us on the main drain as well. It's a lot easier instead of having to empty and trucks coming to us every two weeks.

Mrs Rouget said there was an "awful stench" from the lorry when the cesspit was being emptied.

"You kind of have to apologise to any visitors that come in, it wasn't us, it was the cesspit lorry," she said.

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