WATER bills could more than double – making them among the most expensive in the world – if a new statutory limit for a chemical linked to cancer is approved later this month, the Island’s water utility has said.
Jersey Water stated that bills will need to rise by 15-25% every year for the next five years in order for it to cut down the level of PFAS in drinking water by two-thirds from its current level – as it will be legally obliged to do if States Members approve a new limit.
The utility said that while the company supported introducing a legal limit for PFAS – which is a group of manmade chemicals that are found at trace levels in drinking water – the proposed four nanograms per litre limit proposed by Environment Minister Steve Luce and the five-year timescale for implementation was uncosted and required more work before being voted on this month.
Sharing its concerns with the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, Jersey Water wrote: “For States Members to make an informed decision, the full costs and funding approach need to be understood. Without this information, it is challenging to assess value for money or the affordability of the proposition.”
It argued that achieving 4 ng/l would require a major new treatment works which does not exist in Jersey and could cost between £140m and £210m.
The utility said: “This level of investment cannot be funded by Jersey Water. The proposition should clearly set out how the Government intends to fund the work.”
It added: “The significant costs associated with meeting the 4ng/l limit could increase water bills by as much as 70% – 110%, […] depending on the funding approach. Water in Jersey could become amongst the costliest in the world, challenging affordability and acceptability for Islanders and businesses. A full understanding of the impact on water bills is essential to inform the decision.
“The proposed deadline of just under five years does not fully reflect the scale and complexity of the project. Based on the required steps, including pilot trials and the planning, funding, procurement and construction of a new treatment facility; a more realistic timeframe is a minimum of seven years.
“PFAS treatment cannot be considered in isolation from broader water issues that the Island faces, such as water resource resilience and climate‑related pressures. An integrated approach is needed to ensure decisions in one area don’t exacerbate risks in another.”
Deputy Luce has based the 4 ng/l legal limit on a recommendation of a panel of PFAS and health experts which is advising the government on its response to the contamination. However, its final report on the impact of the chemical on water, soil and food quality is yet to be published.
PFAS was invented in the 1930s and was used in everyday items worldwide due to its ability to resist heat, oil, stains and water. However, it has since been linked to various health conditions including kidney cancer, low immunity and infertility.
In Jersey, areas around the Airport are highly contaminated because a type of PFAS was an ingredient of firefighting foam sprayed at the aerodrome. However, it is present in drinking water islandwide albeit at low levels that meet current international standards.
