Panel to look at forever chemicals levels in water

Forever chemicals in foam at the airport fire training ground leaked into the neighbouring area

An independent panel of scientists will look at whether regulations on the acceptable level of potentially harmful chemicals in Jersey's water supply need to change.

PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, were present in firefighting foam used at the airport fire training ground in the early 1990s and leaked into the neighbouring area and private borehole water supplies.

Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce told the States Assembly that the panel's report would be ready by summer.

He said the report would also help inform any treatment solutions Jersey Water develops to tackle PFAS levels in the water supply.

Steve Luce said he had asked the panel to prioritise water regulation and treatment options.

Responding to questions from Deputy Kristina Moore on the progress of technology to treat water to remove PFAS, Luce said: "I'm committed to ensure safety and quality of our water supply and protected public health.

"And that's why I've asked an independent scientific PFAS panel to prioritise water regulation and treatment options.

"I anticipate an interim report from the panel in the summer, which will allow me to recommend a more stringent regulatory standard of PFAS levels in mains water and to inform the treatment solutions adopted by Jersey Water to achieve this new standard."

However, the minister warned it could take "five or six years" to build the required treatment plants to meet any new regulations.

He said: "In the UK, it would be normal to give five or six years lead-in time.

"The infrastructure needed to achieve to these levels is not something that's going to be built in six months. It's going to be a considerable piece of development and we will need to consider very carefully where it goes and how it's built."

Deputy Inna Gardiner said she was concerned by that response.

She said: "I've learned that, when in Australia they recognised the issue, the plant was built within six months, so there are technologies around the world available.

"We are not the only one dealing with it and I'm worried about having an extensive timelines to deal with the situation."