JERSEY’S new £67 million sewage treatment works, capable of accommodating a substantial increase in the Island’s population, has been completed.
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet welcomed the facility as “a significant step forward in the way in which we manage and treat liquid waste in the Island”.
The minister paid tribute to the Infrastructure and Environment team, who delivered the project after UK construction company NMCN – awarded the main design and construction contract in April 2018 – went into administration in 2021.
“Having recently been shown around Bellozanne, it’s clear to see it’s a remarkable piece of engineering that this exceptional team has quietly got on with, bringing it ‘in house’ to finish, ensuring Jersey has a modern sewage treatment works, fit for our current and future population,” Deputy Binet said.
Work began on the new treatment works in 2019, replacing a facility on the same site, parts of which dated to the late 1950s.
The new plant has the capacity to deal with a population of 141,600 and will provide increased storm water storage, improved effluent and odour control, more consistent control of levels of nitrogen released into St Aubin’s Bay and will also be cheaper to run, the government said.
Duncan Berry, head of liquid waste, described completion of the new treatment works as “a testament to the collaborative efforts of the team over many years”.
“We’re already seeing much improved odour control and a consistency around the effluent quality. To help us maintain the performance of the plant, we would like to remind Islanders to think carefully about what they put down the toilet or wash down the sink, as items such as fat, cotton buds and wipes can cause blockages in the sewer network as well as processing problems at the treatment works,” he said.
The new treatment works form part of a wider £83m investment at Bellozanne which has seen other parts of the plant introduced on a phased basis.
Deputy Binet, who this week secured additional government funding for the wider sewerage network, pointed to its importance in accommodating additional homes in the Island.
“With the sewage treatment works now up and running with increased capacity, it’ll be vital to focus on the Islandwide infrastructure, so we can support housing needs,” he said.
