PLANS to impose strict new limits on cancer-linked chemicals in Jersey’s drinking water could be delayed, as the Treasury Minister seeks more time to avoid committing the Island to a £210 million clean-up which could more than double Islanders’ bills.
Treasury Minister Elaine Millar – whose ministerial role means that she represents the majority shareholding that the government holds in Jersey Water – is seeking to amend a proposal from Environment Minister Steve Luce, which calls for a maximum limit of 4 nanograms per litre of PFAS in drinking water supplied by the utility to be brought in within five years.
Deputy Luce based that ceiling and timeframe on the findings of an advisory body set up to help the government come up with a plan to remove PFAS from water, land and the bodies of Islanders.
But Jersey Water has warned that meeting the proposed standard within the current timeframe could require investment of up to £210 million in a new treatment facility – a cost that could see bills rise by 70% to 110%, potentially making water in Jersey “amongst the costliest in the world”.
The utility firm added that it do not have the money for this, nor could they borrow that amount, so it would require government investment.
Under the amendment, a temporary legal limit of 10 ng/l would apply from October 2027, with the stricter 4 ng/l limit delayed until April 2033. The current level in drinking water is 12 ng/l.
Deputy Millar said: “This amendment introduces an interim limit from 31 October 2027 as a practical step towards achieving the final standard of 4 ng/l.
“It also provides the time needed for the necessary infrastructure upgrades to be delivered, and for further technical work to determine the most effective engineering solution.”
She added that additional time is needed for technical trials currently under way to determine the most effective treatment methods.
Those pilot studies – expected to last around 18 months – are designed to test potential solutions for removing PFAS from drinking water before the Island commits to major infrastructure spending.
PFAS is a collective name for a family of manmade chemicals added to everyday items because of their ability to repel heat, oil, water and grease. However, the chemicals, which take a long time to break down, have since been linked to several health conditions.
Deputy Millar added said decisions about PFAS treatment cannot be taken in isolation from wider concerns about Jersey’s long-term water supply, including drought resilience and future demand.
“In supporting the existing regulations as proposed, Members risk setting Jersey Water up to fail to meet the new standards and tying to a future government to unfunded commitments that will have a substantial impact on Islanders’ cost of living,” she said.
“Deferring the implementation date to 2033 does not inevitably mean delaying implementation. That date is a deadline and not a target.
“If, following the completion of pilot trials, it proves possible to implement the new PFAS limits quicker then government through its shareholder function or its regulatory function has the ability to drive the implementation through as quickly as practicable.”
