MINISTERS are being urged to make tackling PFAS contamination a priority in their four-year programme, after proposed water-quality legislation fell away before the end of the last political term.
Deputy Arlene Maltman has lodged an amendment to the government’s Common Strategic Policy for 2026–2030, warning that its proposed commitments do not explicitly address environmental contamination.
The amendment would add a pledge to improve water quality and tackle pollution, including taking forward recommendations from the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel.
It would also commit ministers to invest in reducing contamination to protect future generations and safeguard Jersey’s countryside, coast and biodiversity.
Deputy Maltman argued that public concern and the work already undertaken by experts warrant an explicit commitment in the government’s programme.
“This stalled attempt to follow through on one of the recommendations of the [PFAS Scientific Advisory] Panel only illustrates how important it is that this work is prioritised and progressed by this government in this political term,” she said.
The previous government lodged legislation to set a PFAS standard in water of four nanograms per litre. However, the proposals were called in for scrutiny and did not reach their second reading before the political term ended.
The scientific panel’s environmental report, published in July, contained 31 recommendations covering water standards, monitoring, treatment, contamination affecting animals and land, and the destruction or containment of contaminated material.
Deputy Maltman also highlighted two public petitions: one calling for cleaner water, a treatment plant and improved PFAS-related healthcare attracted 1,372 signatures, while another seeking PFAS-removal water and air filters in schools and public buildings received 1,146.
The report says 35 written and oral questions have been lodged in the Assembly about PFAS.
However, the amendment extends beyond those chemicals. It cites a monitoring programme of Jersey’s ponds which found that nine of 25 measures exceeded the upper limits of UK pond ranges.
“The intention of this amendment is that the findings of such reports as this are not put to one side but are given the consideration and importance that they deserve,” added Deputy Maltman.
The report acknowledged that consistently meeting a statutory PFAS level of four nanograms per litre would require significant investment.
Jersey Water has said this would involve “the construction of major new infrastructure that does not currently exist in Jersey”, with early estimates ranging from £140 million to £210 million.
