POSITIVE progress has been reported by Jersey Water after assessment of the initial results of new testing techniques which would help meet lower limits for the level of PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
Innovative treatment technology has been used by Jersey Water at two of its treatment works as part of preparation for stricter regulation that has been proposed by the government.
PFAS is the collective name for a group of compounds that has been dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ because of their tightly bound structure, which is slow to break down in the environment and living things, including the human body, with links to various health conditions, including cancer and high cholesterol.
In March of this year, the States Assembly backed a reduction of the current legal limit of 12 micrograms per litre to 10 from October 2027, with a further reduction to four micrograms from April 2033.
However, before it could be debated, the proposition was called in for scrutiny by Environment, Housing and Infrastructure panel chair Deputy Hilary Jeune. The affect of this was that because the debate would not be completed before the election on 7 June, it was deemed to have been withdrawn.
Jersey Water has reported that while the Island’s drinking water continued to meet current UK and EU standards for PFAS, the trials were focused on future changes.
At Augrès Water Treatment Works, Jersey Water is testing liquid-activated carbon, with early results with this technology showing PFAS concentrations reducing by 33% for the 48 compounds already monitored by Jersey Water.
Smaller-scale pilot trials at Handois Water Treatment Works are testing ion exchange, granular activated carbon and the newer G400+ treatment. The company said initial results from the trials have also been promising, although it was too early to say whether any of the three methods could consistently and affordably achieve a future regulatory limit.
Chief executive Helier Smith said the trials needed to run for at least 12 months to understand whether the early PFAS reductions can be reliably sustained under different seasonal conditions.
“These early results are encouraging and provide some early indications that these treatments could help reduce PFAS in drinking water, but we do not yet have the answer – we need a full year of trials to understand how these treatments perform, whether they are technically feasible at scale and what they will cost.
“We strongly support PFAS regulation and want to maintain momentum towards introducing it in Jersey. While these early results provide useful insight, we need to avoid setting specific limits before we have all the evidence. With international understanding of PFAS continuing to develop, we need to make sure that the treatment solution Jersey ultimately invests in is effective, affordable and adaptable to the standards of tomorrow.”
Almost £2 million has been committed to the 2026-27 treatment trials to build the evidence needed to identify the most effective and affordable long-term solution for the Island.
Previous engineering work indicated that meeting a very low PFAS water-quality limit could require a new treatment facility, costing in the region of £140 million to £210 million.
The trials are examining whether the necessary performance could instead be achieved through a technically feasible, lower-cost approach.
