The water resources of Jersey : an overview.

The groundwater and surface waters of Jersey together form a single interactive water body which is sourced by rainfall over the Island. • The water body is currently stressed by a number of factors which constrain the volumes of water available for consumption and the quality of that water. • All the surface and groundwater on Jersey is vulnerable to pollution from both point source (spills, leaking septic tanks etc.) and diffuse (nitrate fertilizer, pesticides) forms of pollution. • There have been a number of serious pollution incidents in recent years. • Careful management of the water body should ensure sufficient volumes of water are available on Jersey to sustain the Island community. The required management machinery is only partly in place and enabling legislation will be required to manage the resource or volume aspects of the water body. • The new Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000 is a welcome component to the toolbox available for managing the water body. • The Jersey New Waterworks Company maintains the public water supply in a commendable manner. The Queen’s Valley Reservoir is a major asset. • The water undertaking is constrained by raw water quality issues but it has no control over the protection of its sources. • The States of Jersey should be working collectively towards enhancing the environment of Jersey for the benefit of its people. There may be a need for a single agency for the environment. • Current interest in chlorthal and nitrate in Jersey waters is stimulating a keen interest in the aqueous environment. Neither compound may be damaging to health at present concentrations, but their presence is, nevertheless, of concern.