The Environment Scrutiny Panel has published its review of nitrate levels in Jersey’s water. It lays the blame for excessive levels in reservoirs and boreholes as well as the sea lettuce problem in St Aubin’s Bay largely on farming.
‘The dominant cause of high nitrate levels in Jersey’s public water supplies is the practice of early potato growing, combined with subsequent land uses after the early potatoes are harvested,’ the report reads.
‘In addition, high nitrates levels that are affecting private water supplies are likely to be the result of poor compliance with basic practice in nutrient management, the siting of septic tank discharges, farmyard waste management measures and old landfill sites.’
Nitrates in water results from the amount of fertilisers applied to the land and private sewage systems – septic tanks and soakaways – of which there are more than 3,000, mostly in the countryside.
Nonetheless, the report acknowledges that significant progress is being made due to a growing commitment by the agricultural industry to improve water quality.
