27 March 2014
Swimmers, surfers and school children will be involved a two week campaign to highlight the risks of polluting Jersey’s waters.
The Blue Fish campaign to raise public awareness about pollution is being run from Monday (31 March).
During the fortnight, shoppers will be told how they can reduce the amount of pollution reaching Jersey’s water; pupils will report on a mock pollution incident; and the campaign logo, a large blue fish, will be projected on to La Collette energy from waste plant.
Pool of pollution
The Blue Fish campaign will kick off in Brook Street (off King Street) with the campaign team enticing shoppers to step into a pool of mock polluted water. Among those getting in will be special guests including champion surfers, swimmers and sailors.
As well as showing the environmental impact of not disposing of chemicals like oil and paint properly, the event will help teach Islanders the everyday practices that they can follow to reduce the amount of pollution reaching Jersey’s water via surface water drains.
British and European champion surfer Arlene Maltman will be among those braving the water on Monday. She knows from experience what a difference clean water can make.
“I’ve surfed in France in areas where at times they’ve had to close the beach because the water is polluted. That’s not an experience I relished and it made me appreciate just how fortunate we are in Jersey to have clean seas. I hope that by raising awareness of good practice it can stay like that, but we all have to play our part in acting responsibly.”
Mock chemical spill
The main focus of the fortnight, which is organised by the Department of the Environment, Eco-Active and Jersey Water, is on awareness-raising in schools.
In primary schools, children will be putting together presentations to get the message across to fellow pupils.
Secondary schools pupils will be producing a news report on a mock pollution incident. They have been given TV footage of mock chemicals being poured down a drain at Rue de Près which discharges into La Baudrette Brook and then on to the Dicq outfall.
The footage shows how the bright green polluted water makes its way through the countryside to the coast. The winning film will be shown on ITV Channel TV.
Drinking water
Since the introduction of the water pollution law 14 years ago, water pollution incidents have fallen and water quality has improved. However a single pollution incident can still have a big impact on Jersey's waters, which are the Island's source of drinking water, as well as the habitat for many species of flora and fauna.
gov.je