Speaking in support of the Environment Department’s draft Water Management Plan, which was published on Monday, the utility company’s chief executive, Helier Smith, said the accepted industry approach was to prevent water supplies from being polluted in the first place.
The plan proposes to improve and protect water supplies by regulating the application of pesticides, fertilisers and manure by the agricultural industry and other land users, such as commercial contractors.
It identifies excessive levels of nitrates, pesticides and fertilisers as the main threats to maintaining a safe supply of drinking water for future generations.
And the report states that unless best practice is implemented across the board, the States might have to invest £30 million in a nitrates removal plant and Jersey Water would also have to invest millions in additional treatment processes.
