The state of the groundwater resources of Jersey during 1999

The groundwater monitoring programme continued throughout 1999. Monitoring of selected groundwater levels has been undertaken on a monthly basis, whereas samples for chemical analysis are collected twice yearly. The field work was undertaken jointly by Kate Little and Clare Le Breuilley at the Public Services Department and the inorganic chemical analyses overseen by Kate Little. A dialogue was maintained during the year with the British Geological Survey at Wallingford and an advisory visit was made to Jersey by Mike Bird. As in 1998, the database has been maintained at Bellozanne, although duplicate groundwater level data are retained at Wallingford. Only one site has been lost during the year, that at JEC at St Helier. However, collection of pump volume meter readings has been discontinued at all sites visited only for that purpose; the density of data being collected on pumping rates had become inadequate and the residual data of limited value. This area can be reassessed in the event that appropriate supportive legislation is invoked. Additional activities include a data recovery exercise from the foundation site engineering work that has been carried out in recent years around St Helier. This has produced a catalogue of hydrogeological data, their whereabouts and format, and a report (Cheney, 2000). In addition a number of ad hoc enquiries have been answered relating to specific problems. These include the proposed extension to Granite Products Limited quarry, the St Ouen’s fire ground pollution incident, and issues raised by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. This report presents the state of the groundwater resources of Jersey for the calendar year 1999. It is not intended as a stand-alone report and reference should also be made to the main project report presented in 1998 (Robins and Smedley, 1998) which describes the groundwater resources of the island in some detail.