Water (Jersey) Law 1972: Duty to Monitor Water

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A decision made on 17 January 2019

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2019-0002

Decision Summary Title :

Water (Jersey) Law 1972: Duty to Monitor Water – 2019

Date of Decision Summary:

09 January 2019

Decision Summary Author:

Director of Environmental Health

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

Water (Jersey) Law 1972 – Duty to Monitor Water

Date of Written Report:

20 December 2018

Written Report Author:

Director of Environmental Health

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject: Water (Jersey) Law 1972: Duty to Monitor Water – 2019

Decision(s): The Minister approved the Monitoring Programme submitted by The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited (Jersey Water) for the calendar year 2019.

Reason(s) for Decision:

Under Article 10(4) of the Water (Jersey) Law 1972 as amended, The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited (Jersey Water) is required to submit its monitoring programme each year to the Minister for the Environment for his or her approval.

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

The monitoring programme is based on best practice.

Resource Implications: None

Action required:

Notify The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited (Jersey Water) that the Minister has approved the monitoring programme for 2019.

Signature:

Deputy John Young

Position:

Minister for the Environment

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Water (Jersey) Law 1972: Duty to Monitor Water - 2019

Growth, Housing and Environment

Report

Water (Jersey) Law 1972 – Duty to Monitor Water

Purpose of the Report

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

Approve the Monitoring Programme submitted by The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited (Jersey Water) for the calendar year 2019.

Background

The programme submitted for 2019 is attached to this report. It has been reviewed by the department and is deemed fit for purpose.

The Monitoring Programme is based on best practice.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the monitoring programme.

Written by: Director – Environmental Health

Approved by: Group Director – Regulation, Growth, Housing and Environment

20th December 2018

Ministerial Decision Case: MD-PE-2019-0002

Proposed Regulatory Monitoring Schedule For The Year 2019

It is proposed that Jersey Water use the following risk assessment based monitoring programme for 2019.

Water Supply Zone

Table 1 sets out the frequency of sampling for check monitoring of parameters in the water 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
Clostridium Perfringens	76
Colony counts	76
Colour	76
Conductivity	76
Cyanide	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.

There are no proposed changes to check monitoring in the water supply zone in 2019 compared to 2018.
Table 2 sets out the frequency of sampling for audit monitoring of parameters in the water supply zone.

Table 2

Audit monitoring
Parameter	Proposed Sampling Frequency
Antimony1	1
Arsenic2	1
Benzene3	1
Benzo(a)pyrene4	0
Boron	8
Cadmium5	1
Chromium5	1
Copper	8
1,2 dichloroethane6	1
Enterococci	8
Fluoride	8
Lead	8
Mercury7	0
Nickel	8
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons4	0
Selenium8	1
Sodium9	1
Trichloroethene }6 Tetrachloroethene }	1
Tetrachloromethane6	1
Trihalomethanes	8
Chloride10	1
Sulfate10	1
Total organic carbon	8
Gross alpha11	4
Gross beta11	4

Proposed changes to audit monitoring in the water supply zone in 2019 compared to 2018 are as follows:

All parameters are assessed to ensure that risks are covered at the appropriate frequency in the monitoring schedule. The audit parameters were assessed at the full audit frequency in 2018 (8 per annum), to revisit the risk assessment undertaken in 2012 for the 2013 schedule, plus to inform the 2019 schedule. A number of frequencies have been reduced or stopped, in line with DWI best practice of reducing sample frequency with consistent results below 60% and cessation below 30% of the parametric value.

Antimony. Mostly an issue for some distribution alloys. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than 5% of the prescribed concentration and therefore audit monitoring for antimony is to be reduced.
Arsenic. Primarily a ground water contaminant, no historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for arsenic is to be reduced.
Benzene. Principally resulting from hydrocarbon pollution, no historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for benzene is to be reduced.
Benzo(a)pyrene and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s). Both are linked to coal tar lined water mains, none are known about in the Island. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for benzo(a)pyrene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons will cease to be undertaken.
Cadmium and Chromium. Both may occur naturally at very low levels, but higher amounts could be associated with industrial pollution. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for cadmium and chromium are to be reduced.
1,2 dichloroethane, Trichloroethene, Tetrachloroethene and Tetrachloromethane. These are industrial chemicals that are only an issue in some groundwater’s. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for 1,2 dichloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene and tetrachloromethane is to be reduced.
Mercury. May occur naturally at very low levels, but higher amounts could be associated with industrial pollution. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for mercury will cease to be undertaken.
Selenium. May occur naturally at very low levels, but higher amounts could be associated with industrial pollution. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than 20% of the prescribed concentration and therefore audit monitoring for selenium is to be reduced.
Sodium. Only a problem with regard to taste at very high concentrations but the nature of the Island means it will be found in surface water (windblown sea spray). However, there has been no historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than 35% of the prescribed concentration and therefore audit monitoring for sodium is to be reduced.
Chloride and sulfate. Only a problem with regard to taste at high concentrations, there has been no historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than 35% of the prescribed concentration and therefore audit monitoring for chloride and sulfate is to be reduced.
Radioactivity. These parameters are measured as part of initial screening for radioactivity in drinking water. Jersey Water sources have been assessed as very low risk and therefore audit monitoring for radioactivity is to be reduced.

Pesticides. As in 2018, during 2019 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 2017 Augres WTW supplied an average of 10,238 m3/d and Handois WTW 9,836 m3/d.

Table 3 sets out the frequency of sampling for both check and audit monitoring of parameters 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
Clostridium Perfringens	52
Conductivity	52
Cyanide	52
Subject to audit monitoring
Benzene1	1
Boron	8
Bromate	8
1,2 dichloroethane2	1
Fluoride	8
Mercury3	0
Pesticides and related products	52*
Trichloroethene }2 Tetrachloroethene }	1
Tetrachloromethane2	1
Chloride4	1
Sulphate4	1
Total organic carbon	8
Gross alpha5	4
Gross beta5	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 proposed pesticide analysis will be forwarded once the risk assessment has been completed.

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 0.016 mg/l.

Proposed changes to audit monitoring at the treatment works in 2019 compared to 2018 are as follows:

All parameters are assessed to ensure that risks are covered at the appropriate frequency in the monitoring schedule. The audit parameters at the treatment works were assessed at the full audit frequency in 2018 (8 per annum), to revisit the risk assessment undertaken in 2012 for the 2013 schedule, plus to inform the 2019 schedule. A number of frequencies have been reduced or stopped, in line with DWI best practice of reducing sample frequency with consistent results below 60% and cessation below 30% of the parametric value.

Benzene. Principally resulting from hydrocarbon pollution, no historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for benzene is to be reduced.
1,2 dichloroethane, Trichloroethene, Tetrachloroethene and Tetrachloromethane. These are industrial chemicals that are only an issue in some groundwater’s. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for 1,2 dichloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene and tetrachloromethane is to be reduced.
Mercury. May occur naturally at very low levels, but higher amounts could be associated with industrial pollution. No historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than the limit of detection and therefore audit monitoring for mercury will cease to be undertaken.
Chloride and sulfate. Only a problem with regard to taste at high concentrations, there has been no historical issue and to date all the results for 2018 are less than 35% of the prescribed concentration and therefore audit monitoring for chloride and sulfate is to be reduced.
Radioactivity. These parameters are measured as part of initial screening for radioactivity in drinking water. Jersey Water sources have been assessed as very low risk and therefore audit monitoring for radioactivity is to be reduced.

Service Reservoirs

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

Table 4 sets out the frequency of sampling for check monitoring of parameters 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 June 2018