JEC under fire for turning the sea bright green
Thursday 28th July 2011, 2:58PM BST.
The sea around La Collette on Tuesday
THE JEC is facing criticism after turning the sea around La Collette bright green during an unannounced water monitoring test.
The firm sparked concern among Islanders and holidaymakers when it poured green dye into the sea on Tuesday afternoon to monitor the outflow from its power plant.
Several Islanders phoned the JEP believing there had been a pollution spill in the area, which has been designated a specially protected Ramsar site because of its ecological importance.
And a number of people swimming in Havre des Pas reportedly left the sea as the dye spread.
But the firm yesterday moved to reassure Islanders that the dye was harmless, and said that the Environment department was fully aware of the test.
However, in a short statement, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft said that he will be investigating whether an offence had been committed under the Water Pollution Law.
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Seriously guys get a life, it can be sky blue pink for all I care.
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the jec stated its harmless dye .
enviroment knew.
enviroment must of asked “whats in
the dye john”
jec must of replied ” heres the spec and impact sheets stan”
enviroment, “thats ok john”
jec ,” cheers stan”.
has no one seen a plumber put dyedown a drain to see who’s drain is who’s ?
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Chris Ambler, Chief Executive of the JEC, reportedly gives the impression in the article that it is simply a case of ‘water in water out’, and indeed with this test it was no doubt just that, with green dye added. But Mr. Ambler does not mention that normally the water is treated on its journey with a hazardous biocide called Nalco Seatreat, which is used in dilution to keep the pipework clear of molluscs.
The water is also heated up along the way by both the JEC and EfW plants who share the pipework for cooling purposes, and when EfW is running it will be discharged at an approximate rate of 13.2 million gallons a day into the Ramsar Area with an average above ambient sea temperature of 8º C. When the tide is out, the heated chemically treated discharge can not harmlessly disperse into open water as suggested. The Regulator, Dr. Tim du Feu, hopes soon to give a final discharge permit to the JEC for a new biocide, which they will be trialing soon. As Seatreat is now banned by the EU, an alternative chemical is necessary.
These chemicals are colourless. Until the dye tests were carried out the public will have in the main unaware that these chemicals are used, however diluted they may be. The dye tests have in this respect been illuminating and done us all a favour; the JEC have visually demonstrated what we have been worried about for years, not only about the path of the biocides into the receptor (the Ramsar Area) but also about the path of the colourless heavy metals in suspension that we suspect leach off the bottom of the ash pits.
Interestingly the dye photos match our photos of the brown toxic leachate released into the Ramsar area in the spring /summer of 2009 by the contractors building the incinerator, who had a massive problem keeping the site de-watered. They reverted to simply pumping the contaminated water out from the pit and thence to sea via the culvert. The brown stain of that extended leachate discharge is in exactly the same area as the green dye.
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i do not work for the jec.
years ago when there was only a breakwater going out from the powerstaion, and the warm water discharge could be seen.
on a low tide you colud dig bait down there , when the tide permited .
the ragworm where huge , never seen them so big ever again, the whitecat like snakes .
nice to hear the jec are to stop using “seatreat”
as jersey is not part of the eu, maybe they did not have to stop using it(seatreat) and are doing their best to be a bit greener.
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must of asked “whats in
the dye john”
jec must of replied ” heres the spec and impact sheets stan”
What’s all this ‘must of’, small money?
If I were to say “I of just finished my meal and am about to of a cup have tea” would that appear correct to you?
Kinda, I expect!
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More waffle from another wannabe states member. No wonder this Island is going to the dogs.
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6.rico.
Are you in a position to actually know if Lyndon Farnham is going to take a petition on this to the Privy Council next week?
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rico.6 At least this one does his research- how can the facts be waffle?
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Only in the USA do they dye the water green——–and thats on march 17.
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(5) c le verdic , i see nothing wrong with you having a cup of tea , after your meal.
sadly this week i will only be drinking tea, as i may have to go out at , a phonecalls notice .
so no beer or hard booze for me for a week,
roll on next friday.
” must of” = pure speculation on my part.
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“as jersey is not part of the eu, maybe they did not have to stop using it(seatreat) and are doing their best to be a bit greener.”
Generally when a product is banned or ceases to be available in the EU it becomes so difficult to obtain in Jersey that it’s use has to be abandoned.
There are also products eg some types of tobacco products which are unobtainable in the island due to island specific labelling that the manufacturer or distributor does not regard as worthwhile for such a small market.
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Ha,ha,must be the old Flamaville discharge turning the frogs to green slush*
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I was walking on the Havre des Pas beach this weekend and was disturbed to find copious dead fish and two large conger eels rotting on the beach. This seems to be too much of a coincidence and makes the JEC claim of ‘harmless’ very hard to credit.
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12@Miss Moscow. Amusing as it may be,the fact is the JEC and the rest of the Jersey utility companies do whatever they please regardless of the impact. No one has any idea who regulates their dubious operations.
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