
Guernsey bans pesticide after traces found in reservoir
He said: "We continue to urge islanders to follow guidelines when using any pesticide, that includes herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. "Do not spray if rain is forecast, do not apply on or near streams, on hard surfaces or near drains. "This includes road drains which often discharge into streams, and always ensure that any left over chemicals or containers are disposed of correctly."The source has not been identified, but it is believed it may be the result of a single use somewhere within the water catchment area in the centre of the island.
Mr Griffiths said: "Water from Longue Hougue is now having to be used in reduced volumes."He said it was being diluted with water from other reservoirs and this and "carbon dosing at the island's northern treatment works, has resulted in metamitron being completely removed".Mr Griffiths said: "The restricted use of Longue Hougue reservoir does impact our water resources position."With an exceptionally dry spring and the restricted use of 27% of the island's stored water, if the current dry spell of weather continues or another pollution incident occurs we could be facing a water shortage, and a requirement for usage restrictions as time goes on"We would like to take this opportunity to remind islanders to always use water wisely."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
a day ago
- Times
Water firms cause more than 100 potentially illegal sewage spills a day
England's water companies are causing more than 100 potentially illegal raw sewage spills a day into rivers and seas, far more than previously thought, The Times can reveal. New data, which suggests a previously unknown level of widespread breaches of the law, shows Anglian Water was the worst offender, followed by South West Water and the crisis-hit Thames Water. The potentially illegal nature of many of the spills raises the prospect of a wave of prosecutions and potential multimillion-pound fines for water firms. Regulators said the figures were 'unacceptable' and they would not hesitate to take enforcement action against breaches of permits. Raw sewage is legally permitted to pour into waterways from relief outfalls, known as storm overflows, on days of heavy rainfall. Those legal spills, which lasted a record 3.61 million hours last year, have sparked public outrage and targets from ministers to halve them.


BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
No hosepipe ban for Guernsey but water use warning issued
Guernsey's water supplier has told customers it has no plans to issue a hosepipe ban, but urged islanders not to be wasteful.A message posted by Guernsey Water on Facebook said while overall storage levels were 4.5% below the 10-year average - which equated to a fortnight's water use - the amount available was still in a "healthier position" than areas of the UK where bans have been company urged customers to be mindful of water use over the summer, in case circumstances said it would issue monthly updates to customers on whether the chances of a hosepipe ban had increased or not. Recent hot weather led to Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, South East Water and Thames Water to impose hosepipe bans to some of their Water said the situation in the island was not as urgent as the areas where hosepipe bans had been put in place.A spokesperson for the company said: "Right now, if the current trends continue, we will not face a hosepipe ban this summer."This doesn't mean you should all go and pressure wash your driveways, leave the sprinkler running or choose Bohemian Rhapsody as your shower song - but it does mean that at this stage voluntary cuts is all we will continue to ask for."


BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Calls for dangerous pier to be fixed in Guernsey
Swimmers have raised concerns about the safety of a Guernsey pier, and called for repairs to be carried pier at Port Grat Bay is on a list of works the States needs to carry out on coastal infrastructure. Chrissie Desperques swims there each day and said the cracks in the pier are getting said: "It only takes that once, somebody could have a very bad accident and I wouldn't like to see anybody get hurt." Ms Desperques claimed rough weather and more people using the pier is the reason why there is more damage. Port Grat Bay is one of the few bays to allow dogs in the summer said she understands the costs involved but called on the States to do the work, "the sooner the better".The States Coastal Infrastructure Team said the work could be carried out "realistically" within the next month, depending on "contractor availability".