Medical Officer for Health - disconnection of water supply (FOI)

​Request

With reference to the Medical Officer for Health (MOFH): 

A

How many times has communication been received from Jersey Water, stating their intention to disconnect a water supply, in the previous five years? 

B

How many times has this request been refused due to health reasons? 

C

Are there any circumstances in which the MOFH would encourage Jersey Water to not disconnection the water supply?  If so, what would these reasons be? 

Response

A

The requested information is shown in the following table.

​It should be noted that Jersey Water will generally send one email with multiple property disconnections on. 

B

The Infrastructure and Environment (I&E) Regulation team does not refuse or accept water disconnection notifications from Jersey Water.

Once notification has been received from Jersey Water that the drinking water supply to a property will be disconnected, the I&E Regulation team contacts owner / occupiers to carry out a welfare check and encourage them to contact Jersey Water to resolve the matter.

C

The teams within the Government of Jersey, who receive disconnection notifications, routinely contact individuals and conduct welfare checks to ensure that residents are safe in the event of water disconnection.  

Since 2021 and possibly earlier, the Medical Officer for Health (MOFH) has not been notified of potential water disconnections.  Jersey Water has now been requested to directly notify the MOFH when a water disconnection is proposed.  

The MOFH has no legal power to intervene and prevent a disconnection, however, they can advise Jersey Water if a disconnection is ill-advised.  Each case would need to be assessed individually.​