Jersey water quality 'among best in the world'

Bosses said in 2024 thousands of samples were taken from its treatment works, service reservoirs and property taps

Jersey Water said the results of recent water quality tests revealed island drinking water "remains among the best in the world".

Bosses said in 2024 thousands of samples were taken from its treatment works, service reservoirs and property taps.

They said drinking water remained "fully compliant with Jersey, UK and EU regulations for PFAS, pesticides and nitrates".

Helier Smith, Jersey Water's chief executive, said: "We openly publish our results on an annual basis so that islanders can be assured that our drinking water not only complies with but is below the regulatory limits for more than 100 different chemical and bacterial parameters, as well as 450 pesticides."

Jersey Water said: "People in Jersey can be assured that their drinking water remains among the best in the world according to water quality results..."

Jersey Water said it "ensured that the trace levels of PFAS concentrations found in mains water are 68% lower than the UK and EU regulatory limits".

Jeanette Sheldon, Jersey Water's Head of Water Quality said: "We share the public's concerns about PFAS, and in particular the impact on those islanders whose private water supplies were contaminated by airport firefighting foam.

"In the last five years, we have increased our PFAS testing by 75% and commissioned 16,656 tests in 2024 alone, demonstrating our commitment to understanding and managing these chemicals.

"Currently, PFAS levels in the island's drinking water are equivalent to approximately one-and-a-half teaspoons of sugar in 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools, which is well below the regulatory standards adopted for Jersey."