Latest news with #JerseyWater
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Dry spring affects Channel Island water supplies
Channel Islanders are being asked to think twice about their water usage after a particularly dry was the warmest spring on record for the island according to the Jersey Met Office, and also the third driest since records began in Guernsey, it was the second warmest but since May was slightly wetter, it was the 11th meant water reserves were below average in both islands. 'Minimise wastage' In Jersey, the water company was "cautious but not concerned" even though it was prepared to use the desalination plant just in case it was needed later in the reservoirs were 89.1% full, 5% below the five-year average and 3% below the 10-year Bowden, Head of Water Resilience for Jersey Water said when the island last experienced drought in 2022, the company was at or around the average capacity of water supply at this time of Bowden said while they were not looking at introducing formal water restrictions at this time they encouraged customers to minimise wastage. But he had not ruled out introducing restrictions later in the summer. 'Think twice' Guernsey Water said the island's water storage levels were 3% below what it was "comfortable with".Recent data from the utility showed levels were sat at around 91.5% which was around 10 day's supply, below its optimal there were no restrictions in place at the moment, Guernsey Water had asked islanders to think twice about if they needed to water their gardens or wash their cars and to practice water saving utility said it would be posting weekly updates on storage levels, each Friday on its Facebook was announced recently that only a limited amount of water could be used from the island's largest raw water storage reservoir due to traces of a pesticide being found. Ashraf Elsergany, the Managing Director of Saints Bay hotel said it can be difficult to manage water usage at a hotel has 35 bedrooms, 12 rooms for staff accommodation, a swimming pool, bar and restaurant, all of which need to use Elsergany said that as a hotel they can not ask customers to not have a shower but they could ask them to "use it sensibly".The swimming pool remained a challenge Elsergany said they "continue to fill up the swimming pool daily" due to evaporation from the sun and a need for more water after the daily chemical Elsergany saids that if any restrictions were to come into place they might have to try "negotiate" how it would work with their hotel. La Mare Wine Estate in Jersey , which grows grapes and apples, was faring well despite the dry weather. Managing Director Tim Crowley said the young vines needed a lot of watering but mature ones had very long roots which searched for water Crowley said there was a "plus and a minus side" as they get a lot less disease in dry weather and were in a "much better than average" place at the 1996 they put in underground tanks which had the capacity to collect 30,000 litres of rain water and this was topped up from a borehole when needed so the business has access to a large amount of free water.
ITV News
01-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
PFAS report: 'No immediate risk' but affected 'plume' area larger than originally thought
An independent report into the PFAS levels of Jersey 's surface water and groundwater has found there to be no "immediate risk to the health of the broader population". However, it has confirmed that the extent of affected groundwater near the airport to be larger than previously thought. This is referred to as the 'plume area' and officers for Infrastructure and Environment are now identifying properties which draw water from boreholes within the newly expanded zone. Home and landowners of any impacted properties will be contacted directly and provided with individual environmental health advice. Groundwater is defined as water that lies below the surface while surface water is classed as ponds and streams. Jersey's Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, says: "PFAS is not just in Jersey, it's everywhere. But we're coming up with scientific, evidence-based solutions to deal with it. "We commissioned this report to give us a better understanding of where PFAS is and what we can do about it. "It is a detailed report on a complex matter and its findings deserve proper consideration." The full 651-page hydrogeological report was published today (1 May) and was compiled by Arcadis - a company which specialises in environmental restoration. The company visited the island on four occasions between July 2023 and May 2024 to sample a wide range of water. PFAS levels were checked across the St Ouen's Bay and Upper Pont Marquet - both impacted areas which Jersey Water no longer draws water from. What is PFAS? Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, oil and grease. The chemicals are also known as 'forever chemicals' because of their persistence in the environment. PFAS is used to produce products such as skin creams and cosmetics, car and floor polish, rinse aids for dishwashers, textile and fabric treatments, food packaging and microwave popcorn bags, baking equipment, frying pans, outdoor clothing, waterproof mascara and shoes. The chemical remains in the body and some studies have linked it to certain types of cancer. PFAS contaminated several private water supplies in the west of Jersey after leaking from the airport in the 1990s, where it was being used in firefighting foams. One of the report's key findings states "significant PFAS contamination" remains under the Fire Training Ground at Jersey Airport. It recommends that Jersey's government continue targeted monitoring to help fill in gaps with data. Further testing and monitoring will take place over the summer months to monitor the movement of PFAS from and around the airport site. The Minister will now review the report's findings and produce a full response by 12 June.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Free water bottle refill fountain installed in Jersey
A water fountain where people can refill bottles for free has been installed in Jersey as part of plans to build a wider Water said the station had been installed round the back of St John's church, in St John's Village, to help reduce the use of singe-use plastic bottles in the said the station was set up in collaboration with the St John Youth and Community Trust, which helped fund the Skyba, Jersey Water's network manager, said the firm wanted to install more of the fountains with plans set to be submitted for refill stations in Howard Davis Park and St Brelade's Bay. Mr Skyba said: "These fountains give the public access to free water refills and, from an environmental perspective, reduce Islanders' reliance on single-use plastic bottles."Our aim is to install a minimum of two fountains a year at popular locations around the Island."Julia Williams, from the St John Youth and Community Trust, said the organisation was "really proud" to have helped install the fountain."It is a positive legacy for the trust, which has, for many years, been focused on supporting community efforts in the parish," she added.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Panel to look at 'acceptable levels' of PFAS in Jersey water
An independent panel of scientists will look at whether regulations on the acceptable level of potentially harmful chemicals in Jersey's water supply need to (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, were present in firefighting foam used at the airport fire training ground in the early 1990s and leaked into the neighbouring area and private borehole water Minister Deputy Steve Luce told the States Assembly that the panel's report would be ready by said the report would also help inform any treatment solutions Jersey Water develops to tackle PFAS levels in the water supply. Responding to questions from Deputy Kristina Moore on the progress of technology to treat water to remove PFAS, Luce said: "I'm committed to ensure safety and quality of our water supply and protected public health."And that's why I've asked an independent scientific PFAS panel to prioritise water regulation and treatment options."I anticipate an interim report from the panel in the summer, which will allow me to recommend a more stringent regulatory standard of PFAS levels in mains water and to inform the treatment solutions adopted by Jersey Water to achieve this new standard."However, the minister warned it could take "five or six years" to build the required treatment plants to meet any new said: "In the UK, it would be normal to give five or six years lead-in time."The infrastructure needed to achieve to these levels is not something that's going to be built in six months. It's going to be a considerable piece of development and we will need to consider very carefully where it goes and how it's built."Deputy Inna Gardiner said she was concerned by that said: "I've learned that, when in Australia they recognised the issue, the plant was built within six months, so there are technologies around the world available."We are not the only one dealing with it and I'm worried about having an extensive timelines to deal with the situation."
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Jersey government 'committed' to safety of water supply
Ministers have promised to act on a petition which called for better healthcare for people who were exposed to a chemical used in firefighting foam at Jersey the environment minister and health minister said all actions used to tackle PFAS in the island's water will be guided by scientific the early 1990s the foam was used on the airport fire training ground and leaked into the neighbouring area and private borehole water supplies.A spokesperson for Jersey Water said it was committed to playing a key role in implementing solutions to treat PFAS. 'Stricter standards' More than 1,200 people signed a petition to "clean Jersey's water, build a treatment plant and improve PFAS-related healthcare".The petition said the island's water was "contaminated with many types of PFAS and nitrates posing risks to health" and called for a new treatment plant. Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce said the government was "committed to ensuring the safety and quality" of the water supply and protecting public health."I am acutely aware of the challenges posed by PFAS contamination and the potential health risks it presents," he said. Luce said Jersey Water's 2024 report demonstrated 100% compliance with current UK and EU regulatory standards for PFAS."We are working towards introducing a specific regulatory requirement for Jersey to meet even stricter standards," he added."I recognise the need for advanced treatment solutions to address PFAS contamination." 'Significant work' Luce said models similar to Australia's $30m treatment plant in Katherine were being considered as a solution. He said Jersey Water had undertaken "significant work" to review options, adding it was "committed" to implementing treatment technology to reduce PFAS and nitrates in the island's water. "I am confident that when I bring forward a Jersey regulatory standard for PFAS later this year, Jersey Water will be in an advanced position to implement treatment in their two water plants," he said. 'Critical need' A spokesperson for Jersey Water said it was focused on the "critical need" to address the risks posed by PFAS pollution on the island and they were working closely with the added: "Our focus is on investigating and selecting the right treatment solution for Jersey, based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence, global best practices, and compliance with the future regulatory limits the government sets for the island." The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said "significant steps" were being taken to address the health impacts of PFAS contamination for all islanders "especially in the island's hotspot around the airport".Mr Binet said the public health commissioned the independent PFAS scientific advisory panel in 2023 which produced two of three planned reports on the impacts on PFAS on health."I am committed to delivering the report's recommendations and report three, which focuses on interventions to lower PFAS levels, blood testing, and re-testing," he natural environment department will also release a hydrogeological survey report, to understand the impact on the environment.
