Skip to main content Skip to accessibility
This website is not compatible with your web browser. You should install a newer browser. If you live in Jersey and need help upgrading call the States of Jersey web team on 440099.
Government of Jerseygov.je

Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Water Supply: 2017 Monitoring Programme: Approval

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

  • demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision

  • providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 30 December 2016:

Decision Reference:  MD-PE-2016-0159

Decision Summary Title :

Water (Jersey) Law 1972 - Duty to Monitor Water

Date of Decision Summary:

02/12/16

Decision Summary Author:

 

Head of Water Resource Management & Regulation - Environmental Protection

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

 

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

 

Written Report

Title :

Water (Jersey) Law 1972 - Duty to Monitor

Date of Written Report:

02/12/16

Written Report Author:

Head of Water Resource Management & Regulation - Environmental Protection

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

 

Public

Subject:  Water (Jersey) Law 1972 - Duty to Monitor Water

Decision(s):

The Minister for the Environment approved the monitoring programme submitted by The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited (Jersey Water) for the calendar year 2017.

Reason(s) for Decision:

Under Article 10(4) of the Water (Jersey) Law 1972 as Amended, Jersey Water is required to submit details of its monitoring programme each year to the Minister for the Environment for his approval.

 

The monitoring programme has been reviewed by the Department and is deemed fit for purpose.

 

The monitoring programme is based on best practice in England and Wales.

Resource Implications:

Nil

 


Action required:

Notify Jersey Water confirming approval of the monitoring programme for 2017.

 

Signature:

 

 

Position:

 

 

Date Signed:

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

 

Water Supply: 2017 Monitoring Programme: Approval

 

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

 

WATER (JERSEY) LAW 1972

ARTICLE 10 – DUTY TO MONITOR  
 

(Public)

 

 

 

Purpose of the Report

 

The Minister for the Environment (The Minister) is requested to:

 

  1.  Approve the proposed monitoring programme of treated water for 2017 that was submitted by The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited (Jersey Water).

 

Background

Under Article 10(4) of the Water (Jersey) Law, 1972 as Amended, Jersey Water is required to submit its monitoring programme for treated water each year for the approval by The Minister.

Discussion

 

The monitoring programme submitted has been reviewed by the Department of the Environment and is deemed fit for purpose.

 

A copy of the proposed monitoring schedule for 2017 is attached to this report. 

 

The monitoring programme is based on best practice in England and Wales in accordance with The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (England and Wales).

 

Jersey Water continues to move towards a targeted and cost-effective risk-based approach to its monitoring programme; whereby the sampling frequency, location and the determinants sampled is based on a thorough examination of use (likely occurrence within Jersey Waters) and risk to the water supply/consumer.

 

This year, Jersey Water have undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the risks of pesticide contamination to water supplies from those products imported and used in the Island.  This has led to a bespoke monitoring programme which monitors for, where there is an accredited methodology, those pesticides in raw waters and at the treatment works.  In instances where there is not an accredited analytical method for a new pesticide available, the Company will look at surrogate pesticides which behave in the same way, and investigate and work with UK laboratories to develop a methodology.

 

Jersey Water proposes the following changes for its 2017 monitoring schedule:

 

  • Enterococci will now be measured at check monitoring levels in Supply Zones in addition to coliforms and E-coli as it is more indicative of faecal pollution.

 

 

  • Pesticides monitoring will be undertaken at the treatment works and not in the supply zone. This will allow for more concentrated monitoring to be undertaken, for more substances on a more frequent basis. If any breaches are recorded during monitoring, sampling of the affected supply zone will be undertaken.
     
  • Cyanide will be included at check monitoring frequency as a blunt test to detect pesticides that contain a cyanide group in their chemical structure that would otherwise go undetected.
     
  • Westmount and Les Platons supply consumers prior to arriving at the sites so will be referred to as service reservoirs rather than supply points and be sampled as such.
     
  • Using the pesticide import data and information gained from GCMS semi-quantitative scan results, a risk assessment has been carried out by Jersey Water to highlight potential threats to the water supply. This, along with what analyses are available from UK water accredited laboratories, has informed Jersey Water’s list of pesticides to be monitored. The main group of pesticides will be monitored weekly throughout 2017. A separate group of pesticides are to be analysed 16 times during 2017, targeted to the spring growing season and the autumn. This represents a two fold increase in analysis above the England and Wales sampling frequency previously followed.

 

The proposed monitoring schedule is appended to this report.

 

Recommendation

 

  1. The Minister approves the proposed monitoring programme submitted by Jersey Water for the calendar year 2017.

 

ii.               Notify Jersey Water confirming approval of the monitoring programme for 2017.

 

 

Written by: Head of Water Resource Management & Regulation, Environment Department

 

Approved by:   Director of Environmental Protection

 

 

Attachments:

Proposed Regulatory Monitoring Schedule for the Year 2017 - Jersey Water

 

 

[File Ref]

Ministerial Decision ref: MD-PE-2016-0159

02 December 2016


Proposed Regulatory Monitoring Schedule For The Year 2017

 

 

 

Water Supply Zone

 

It is proposed that Jersey Water use the following risk assessment based monitoring programme for 2017.

 

Table 1 sets out the frequency of sampling for check parameters in the supply zone.

 

Table 1

 

Check monitoring

Parameter

Proposed Sampling Frequency

E.coli

12 per 5,000 population ie 240

Coliform bacteria

Residual disinfectant

Aluminium

76

Ammonium

76

Colony counts

76

Colour

76

Conductivity

76

Cyanide

76

Enterococci

76

Hydrogen ion

76

Iron

76

Manganese

76

Nitrate

76

Nitrite

76

Odour

76

Taste

76

Turbidity

76

 

The Company uses aluminium sulphate as a flocculant in the primary treatment process, therefore the sample frequency for aluminium will be at the check monitoring frequency.

 

As the water the Company uses originates from, or is influenced by, surface waters, the sampling frequency for iron and manganese will be at the check monitoring frequency.

 

 The Company uses chloramination as one of its disinfection processes; therefore the sampling frequency for nitrite will be at the check monitoring frequency.

 

 

Table 2 sets out the frequency of sampling for audit parameters in the supply zone.

 

Table 2

 

Audit monitoring

Parameter

Proposed Sampling Frequency

Antimony

1

Arsenic

1

Benzene

1

Boron

1

Cadmium

1

Chromium

1

Copper

8

1,2 dichloroethane

1

Lead

8

Nickel

1

Selenium

1

Sodium

1

Trichloroethene     }

Tetrachloroethene }

1

Tetrachloromethane

1

Trihalomethanes

8

Chloride

1

Sulphate

1

Total organic carbon

8

Gross alpha

4

Gross beta

4

 

Changes in 2017 compared to 2016:

 

  • Enterococci. Enterococci are widely distributed in the environment and are normal commensals of the intestinal tracts of animals, birds and humans. It has also been argued that their survival patterns are similar to pathogens, including viruses. Therefore, testing for Enterococci may be more indicative of faecal pollution than testing for coliforms. In light of this information the frequency of analysis has been increased to check monitoring levels. The analysis for Enterococci has been undertaken by the Jersey Water laboratory during 2016. To date all results have been negative in treated water.

 

 

  • Pesticides. Monitoring for pesticides will be undertaken at the treatment works and not in the supply zone. This will allow for more concentrated monitoring to be undertaken and also allow for more substances to be monitored on a more frequent basis. If any breaches are recorded monitoring of the affected supply zone will be undertaken.

 


Treatment Works

 

The Company has two water treatment works located at Augres WTW and Handois WTW. Both treatment works use clarifiers (chemical assisted sedimentation) for primary treatment, followed by rapid gravity filtration using dual media (anthracite and sand). During 2015 Augres WTW supplied an average of 10,280 m3/d and Handois WTW 9,699 m3/d.

 

Following the release of the England and Wales Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016, a review has taken place as to how the treatment works are classified.

 

During 2015/16, monitoring at Handois was undertaken at the three outlets to the treatment works. In Part 5 – Monitoring Additional Provisions, section 13.9, it states that it is only necessary to monitor more than one point if there is a difference in the treatment process between the points. All water going through Handois is treated in the same way, so for 2017 regulatory samples will only be taken from the Pump Station Outlet and not the 12” and 18” mains.

 

Table 3 sets out the frequency of sampling at the treatment works.

 

Table 3

 

Substances and parameters

Proposed Sampling Frequency

E.coli

208

Coliform bacteria

208

Colony counts

208

Nitrite

104

Residual disinfectant

208

Turbidity

208

Conductivity

52

Cyanide

52

Subject to audit monitoring

Benzene

1

Boron

1

Bromate

8

1,2 dichloroethane

1

Fluoride

1

Pesticides and related products

52*

Trichloroethene     }

Tetrachloroethene }

1

Tetrachloromethane

1

Chloride

1

Sulphate

1

Total organic carbon

8

Gross alpha

4

Gross beta

4

 

* Frequency for pesticide analysis will be based on the individual substances risk-assessed threat to the water supply, up to a maximum of 52 analyses in the year.

 

The Company uses chloramination as one of its disinfection processes; therefore the sampling frequency for nitrite will be at the check monitoring frequency.

 

The Company does not add sodium hypochlorite after the water has left the treatment works, therefore audit monitoring for bromate (a possible disinfection by-product) shall take place at the treatment works.

 

Check monitoring of nitrite at the treatment works will continue at the reduced rate - results for the last two years have been well below the EU regulatory limit of 0.1 mg/l, the highest result being 0.013 mg/l.

 

Changes in 2017 compared to 2016:

 

Cyanide. In light of the cyanide result experienced at Les Platons East SR on the 13th June, investigations have taken place as to where it could have originated from. The only unusual occurrence that can be linked to the time of sampling is the pesticide spill at the junction of La Route de St Jean and La Rue des Saints Germains on the 11th June. Cymoxanil, one of the substances involved in the spill, has a cyanide group in its chemical structure. South East Water ran a cymoxanil standard at our request through the cyanide test and it gave a positive result for cyanide. In light of this cyanide has been included at check monitoring frequency as a blunt test to detect pesticides that contain a cyanide group in their chemical structure that would otherwise go undetected.

 

 

 

 


Service Reservoirs

 

The Company has treated water service reservoirs (SR) at Westmount Road, St. Helier (9Ml capacity) and Les Platons, Trinity (9Ml capacity).

 

Following the release of the England and Wales Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016, a review has taken place as to how the service reservoirs are classified.

 

A service reservoir should only be classified as a supply point if it receives water from a treatment works before any of it has been supplied to a consumer. As water entering both Westmount and Les Platons has supplied consumers prior to arriving at the sites, for 2017 they will be referred to as service reservoirs rather than supply points and they will be sampled as such.

 

Table 4 sets out the frequency of sampling at the service reservoirs.

 

Table 4

 

Substances and parameters

Proposed Sampling Frequency

E.coli

52

Coliform bacteria

52

Colony counts

52

Residual disinfectant

52

 

 

It is proposed that analysis for the parameters given in the monitoring schedules will be undertaken by either the Company laboratory or their consulting analysts.

 

 

29th August 2016

 

 

 


Pesticides analysed at the treatment works

 

The “Pesticides analysed at the treatment works” is a living document and as such will be modified to include/exclude any substance deemed necessary to effectively monitor the water quality.

 

It is proposed in 2017 that pesticides are only monitored at the treatment works outlets as the amounts present will not increase as the water travels through the distribution system. If there is a breach at the works, further sampling within the area fed by the affected works will be taken.

 

Using the pesticide import data and information gained from GCMS semi-quantitative scan results, a risk assessment has been carried to highlight potential threats to our supply. This, along with what analyses are available from UK water accredited laboratories, has informed our list of pesticides.

 

The main group of pesticides will be monitored weekly throughout 2017. A separate group of pesticides are to be analysed 16 times during 2017, targeted to the spring and autumn growing seasons. This represents a two fold increase in analysis above the England and Wales sampling frequency previously followed.

 

This will run alongside our raw water monitoring programme to keep the company informed of the best sources to use, minimising the risk to the treated water supply.

 

Please note that chlorthal is not available as a parameter for analysis.

 

Substances and parameters

Proposed Sampling Frequency

2,4,5-T

2,4-D

2,4-DB

Atrazine

Azoxystrobin

Benazolin

Bentazone

Boscalid

Bromoxynil

Carbendazim

Carbetamide

Chlortoluron

Clopyralid

Cyproconazole

Dicamba

Dichlorprop

Diuron

Epoxiconazole

Ethoprophos

Fluroxypyr

Flusilazole

Flutriafol

Ioxynil

Isoproturon

Linuron

MCPA

MCPB

Mecoprop (MCPP)

Mesosulfuron-Methyl

Metribuzin

Metazachlor

Oxadixyl

PCP(Pentachlorophenol)

Pendimethalin

Prometryn

Propazine

Simazine

Tebuconazole

Terbutryn

Triclopyr

Trietazine

52

Chlorpropham

Chlorpyriphos

Clomazone

Diflufenican

Flufenacet

Propiconazole

Propyzamide

Prosulfocarb

16, targeted to spring and autumn growing seasons

Glyphosate

Metaldehyde

4

GCMS semi-quantitative scan

1

 

 

Back to top
rating button