THE Treasury Minister has revealed she was not consulted about the funding implications of the proposed law change to set a new limit for toxic “forever chemicals” in mains water.
Deputy Elaine Millar told the Assembly yesterday, during States question time, that she was “not aware” of the proposition prior to it being lodged.
It follows a proposal lodged by the Environment Minister Steve Luce, which, if approved by the States, will limit the maximum amount of PFAS allowed to a third of its current level.
There would be a legal requirement that the total sum of four types of PFAS – PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS – which according to the latest water quality report by utility Jersey Water is 12ng/l – not exceed four nanograms per litre within five years.
While Jersey Water has said that it welcomes the new legal standard proposed by the government for a toxic family of chemicals found in mains water – it says taxpayer funding will be needed to achieve it.
Since it was lodged, Deputy Millar said she had been contacted by Jersey Water about the cost implications and feasibility of delivering the required changes within the proposed five years.
However, she added that “regulatory and operational matters” sit with the Environment Minister, who she said “wanted to ensure that this important issue” of PFAS “could be debated within this term of government”.
An assessment of funding implications and technical solutions is “now under way with Jersey Water” to “confirm the likely long-term costs of implementing the regulations”, she added.
And, according to the Treasury Minister, the cost of the updated regulation could be paid in part by money by the government or customers.
“Some options may require significant government investment or borrowing and may result in substantial increases in water bills,” she said.
In response to a question by Deputy Jonathan Renouf about whether funding for it will be made available through the Investing in Jersey Program, Deputy Millar said it will depend on what solutions are decided on, and added that the fact she had not been consulted on the proposals prior to being lodged was a “genuine oversight”.
When asked by Deputy Jeune if the Assembly will be presented with the financial implications before the debate on it next month, she said yes, but added that the best solution may not be determined until full tests are completed, which will take a year.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used widely in industrial processes and consumer products. They have been manufactured and used globally for several decades and are now present in the environment worldwide, including Jersey
PFAS have been used in products designed to resist heat, oil, stains and water. Common applications include clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces and the insulation of electrical wiring.
They are dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ due to their inability to break down in the environment or human body, they have been linked to several health conditions, including kidney cancer, high cholesterol and infertility.
In Jersey, PFOS was an ingredient of firefighting foam sprayed for years at the Airport. High concentrations have been found in water, including boreholes, streams and ponds, around the aerodrome.
It has also been found at high levels in people’s blood.
Because Jersey Water abstracted drinking water from boreholes in St Ouen’s Bay, and because PFAS has been used in so many products, the carbon-based chemical is present in trace levels in mains water.
