Southside oil spill investigated

Thursday 29 March 2018

A suspected oil spill into the harbour at St Sampson's is being investigated by Environmental Health.

It happened during the day on Wednesday 28 March, but it's not yet known how it happened or how much oil was spilt.

Guernsey Harbours and the States' Environmental Health team were alerted to the incident via vigilant members of the public, with some posting images on social media.

Hundreds of gallons of crude oil being pumped onto beach at south side st sampsons - disgraceful and how much damage to marine life ? pic.twitter.com/7NDtnmul6A

— Vale Parishioner (@ParishionerVale) March 28, 2018

Also commenting via Twitter, Guernsey Harbours said the Duty Harbourmaster had checked it out and could confirm that the pollutant discharge had stopped and "does not originated from the operational harbour area" with first indications instead pointing to the to oil being dumped into the surface drainage.

Guernsey Harbours said Guernsey Water and Environmental Health were continuing their investigation. It wasn't a matter for Guernsey Water though who also confirmed that Environmental Health were investigating the matter.

Confirming the incident to Express, Environmental Health said that investigation is ongoing.

Director of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation Tobin Cook said staff were made aware of an oil spill at Southside with an officer attending immediately, although most of the oil had dispersed by that time: "Whilst we have seen pictures on social media, even with the rapid response, much of the oil had already dispersed when they arrived."

Mr Cook explained that it wasn't yet clear what the oil was or where it had come from: "The oil appeared to be used engine oil and it was discharged onto the foreshore from a surface water pipe.  We are liaising with Guernsey Water and are investigating properties along the surface water drain run, as well as looking at surface water gullies to try to establish the origin of the oil.  In the event that anyone has any information about the source, they are encouraged to contact the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation on 711161 or via envhealth@gov.gg" 

There are rules concerning the discharge of oil and Mr Cook added that "businesses and the public are reminded that waste oil must not be discharged into either the surface water or foul water systems and it should be collected by a licensed waste carrier or taken to the Longue Hougue recycling centre (if domestic) or a waste site that is licensed for oil collection (if commercial or domestic).”