Alderney households offered grants for connection to new sewer

Friday 21 April 2023

Around 30 Alderney households are being offered a financial incentive to link up to a new sewer main as the island continues to improve the network.

Ultimately wastewater is pumped into the sea through the Platte Saline outfall and the latest phase of the project includes a pump and filtration system to screen out non-biodegradable material.

At the April States of Alderney meeting, it agreed to to offer a grant of up to £2,000 per household, to encourage their connection to the Mouriaux to Platte Saline sewer as it is completed.

Work currently underway will ultimately connect around 100 properties to the sewer as part of a five phase approach.

The current phase two works will benefit around 30 homes.

Connection fees payable by all properties on the Island have been repealed in order to encourage more households to switch from outdated and costly septic tank and cesspit systems.

Until now, the connection fees charged have been £500 for a private dwelling, £1,000 for a commercial property and £2,000 for a hotel.

The installation of a main sewer from Les Mouriaux at the top of St Anne to Platte Saline to the north was identified some years ago as a preferred capital programme.

The first phase, mainly in the lower part of Le Petit Val, was completed in 2016 although a number of properties have yet to connect. 

Phase two will connect this part of the sewer to the current Platte Saline outfall.

The overall total phase two project will cost £247,000.

The States were told that the project will improve the quality of wastewater by removing damaging materials such as plastics and wet wipes and reduce costs incurred by subsidised septic tank emptying.

Lin Maurice, Chair of the General Services Committee, told the States assembly: “The Public Works Department is to be applauded for doing such a fine job in creating this project and bringing it to us under budget.”

Future phases will connect properties at the eastern end of Platte Saline and the Wide Lane area.