​About the Water Management Plan 2017 to 2021

To protect our water, we've introduced legislation and developed a water monitoring network.

This monitoring shows that the quality of the Island's water is improving, but we need to make sure that the water we use and the way in which we use it is sustainable.

To make sure we have this sustainable future, we're developing a Water Management Plan for Jersey.

The measures in the plan will build on actions that are already being taken, including:

• using environmental regulation and other linked policies, eg the Rural Economy Strategy
• voluntary initiatives
• economic measures
• pollution prevention campaigns
• advice and training

The plan will also set out what we need to do around water quality issues.

Current status of the water environment

The results of the first part of the plan, which sets out the current status of our water and what the priority issues are, can be found in the report below.

Challenges for the water environment of Jersey (States Reports)

Issues the Water Management Plan will address

The plan will address issues with:

• nitrates
• phosphorus
• pesticide
• any identified gaps in the water quality monitory data

Nutrients and pesticides as key issues

Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and pesticides have been identified as the key issues for the plan to address over the next five years.

Elevated levels of these substances result in a range of impacts on:

• drinking water quality
• environmental water quality
• ecosystem health

Royal Horticultural Society website

Farming and the environment

Using pesticides safely

​Health and Safety Executive website: pesticides

Fixing nitrate problems in Jersey waters

The Nitrate Working Group was set up to help with the nitrate issue in Jersey's waters.

Their background report reviews evidence and covers the history of the nitrate issue.

Their recommendations covered six main areas:

• general measures to inform, encourage and incentivise codes of good practice
• cultivations and land use
• soil testing
• nutrient management and planning
• precision fertiliser and organic manure applications
• organic manure storage

There were also recommendations to reduce nitrates from private drainage systems and grassland, which include:

• nitrates from farming
• a new code of practice for private drainage systems
• limits on the application of organic wastes to land
• register of fertiliser imports and sales for all commercial users of nitrogen and phosphorus

The group's recommendations have been incorporated in the Water Management Plan.

Download Nitrate Working Group background report (size 444kb)

Download Nitrate Working Group report and recommendations (size 425kb) 

Download the Water Management Plan for Jersey: Overview document (374kb)

Download Water Management Plan for Jersey 2017 to 2021 (size 2mb)

Responses at 24 January 2017

You can read the Minister's response to the report below:

Download Ministers' response on the report by Save Our Shoreline Jersey (size 525kb)