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.