Latest news with #LongueHougue
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Guernsey bans pesticide after traces found in reservoir
The pesticide metamitron has been banned in Guernsey after traces of the compound were found in the island's largest raw water storage reservoir, Guernsey Water announced. The chemical was found in a routine water quality sample taken at Longue Hougue Reservoir on the 27 February with the reservoir isolated from the supply while investigations were carried quality risk manager Daffyd Griffiths said only a very limited supply of water could be used but rigorous testing schedules had detected the chemical early enough to protect the island's drinking warned if the current dry weather continued or another pollution incident occurred the island could face a water shortage. 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."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Food waste sent to landfill after fault at Guernsey plant
About 90 tonnes of recyclable food waste has been sent to landfill due to a fault at Guernsey's waste processing plant that persisted for three weeks, the States has plant at Longue Hougue, which prepares food waste before it is sent off the island to be broken down by bacteria, broke on 21 April but it has now been Waste said it limited the backlog of waste needing to be sent to landfill from an estimated 150 tonnes to about 90 tonnes after the site was restored on manager Sarah Robinson said it was necessary to send the waste to landfill to prevent issues with future processing. Waste stockpile Guernsey Waste said it was the longest interruption in the processing of food waste since the site was set up in said work was under way to clear the stockpile of unprocessed waste, which it anticipated to be completed early next added 90 tonnes of landfill was "less than a week's worth of the island's food waste".Mrs Robinson said some of the oldest remaining food waste may need to be sent to landfill if it was deemed unsuitable for processing. "After the fault to our processing equipment, the decision to landfill some of the decomposed waste was necessary to prevent issues with future processing and to ensure we had the capacity to continuing accepting deliveries of food waste," she said."During that time, every effort has been taken to keep the amount of food waste landfilled to a minimum."
