People in Jersey can be assured that their drinking water remains among the best in the world, according to water quality results published today by Jersey Water.
In its annual water quality report, the utility shares overall results from more than 42,000 tests conducted on untreated and treated drinking water between October 2023 and September 2024.
The tests on drinking water achieved 99.95% compliance with regulatory standards set by Jersey, the UK and the EU, and reflect Jersey Water’s consistently strong performance record for more than a decade.
The report also highlights the utility’s focused efforts with the Government of Jersey and the farming community to tackle the use of nitrates and pesticides, leading to zero water quality failures since 2013 and 2016 respectively. Jersey Water has also ensured that the trace levels of PFAS concentrations found in mains water are 68% lower than the UK and EU regulatory limits.
Helier Smith (pictured), Jersey Water’s Chief Executive commented: “These results demonstrate the high standards that we adhere to, so that we keep supplying safe, clean and reliable water to the Island. 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. As water quality becomes an increasingly critical issue around the world, our priority, and our commitment, is to consistently maintain both high quality drinking water and confidence in Jersey Water.”
With growing public concern globally about the effects of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution on the environment, Jersey Water has included a detailed section on these man-made chemicals in its report, to reassure Islanders that the mains supply is safe to drink, and that concentrations of PFAS are well below the regulatory limits set by the UK and EU.
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 1980s. 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. It’s also predominantly compliant with the new, more stringent regulations that are coming into effect in the UK, EU and USA between now and 2031. However, we will continue to investigate viable treatment solutions and are committed to complying with any internationally recognised standards that the Government of Jersey sets for the Island. PFAS is a complex and evolving issue, with significant information in the public domain. We encourage Islanders to seek out credible and verified sources. Our Water Quality team is available to talk to any customers who have queries about their water quality.”
