13 January 2009
The Environment Division are requesting households and businesses that take water from boreholes, wells, stream or reservoirs to register or license their abstraction as part of the Water Resources (Jersey) Law 2007.
This Law which came into force on 1 January 2009 has been designed to help protect the Island’s water supply through the collection of vital data. The exact quantity of water pumped from the Island’s aquifers is presently unknown. However, data collected through the registration and licensing process will allow the quantity of water available in Jersey to be properly determined.
Without this data the Island’s limited water resources cannot be managed effectively. During periods of drought or periods of high demand the present lack of information could result in serious consequences to Island life.
Providing accurate information by registering a borehole or well will also help protect a supply. For example, future applications for large abstractions in an area can be assessed so they do not dry up an existing registered or licensed water source.
All domestic properties using a borehole or well (including volumes up to 15 cubic meters in any 24 hour period used by businesses) are requested to apply to register the abstraction by 30 April 2009. There is no cost for these users, either to register or use the borehole or well. Such a borehole or well must be registered even if the household is also supplied by Jersey Water.
Larger users of water (more than 15 cubic metres in any 24 hour period - for example, large hotels, golf courses etc) are requested to apply to license the abstraction by 31 March 2009. Fifteen cubic metres (which is approximately 75 full baths) is far more water than a household can normally use in one day.
Households or businesses supplied entirely by Jersey Water or from tanks that are filled by rain water or water tanker do not need to apply to be registered or licensed.
The Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment, Deputy Anne Pryke said,
“Water is essential for our Island life, not only for drinking but also for agriculture, business and our diverse flora and fauna. We must all ensure that it is adequately protected for everybody’s use and enjoyment.
The application process is straightforward. All domestic households and users of up to 15 cubic meters of water in any 24 hour period are exempt from any charge for registering or subsequent use of water.
A dedicated help desk is available and members of the public will be given assistance by staff to complete the application forms”.
For more information and to ask for copies of the registration/licence packs, please contact the Water Resources Help Desk on (01534) 441622 or download an application form through the States of Jersey web site:
www.gov.je -ends-
Notes to Editors: The Water Resources (Jersey) Law, 2007 is essential legislation for a densely populated Island community with a reliance on finite rainfall for its water needs.
On 9 September 2008 the States of Jersey approved the Water Resources (Jersey) Law 2007 (Appointed Day) Act 2008. This enables Jersey to bring into force the Water Resources (Jersey) Law 2007. As well as registration and licensing, this new Law will also provide for:
• the protection, management and regulation of the Island’s inland water resources;
• the protection of current and future public and private abstraction rights;
• the conservation of animals and plants that rely on that resource and their habitats;
• the proper allocation of water resources for the benefit of the Island’s community and environment;
• ensuring that sufficient water will be available for drinking, industry, agriculture and recreation;
• the development of long-term strategies to be implemented to minimise negative impacts of global warming and climate change.
The Law came into force on 1 January 2009. The provisions of the Law, which require that most abstractions from both surface and sub-surface waters, and some impoundments (e.g. damming) of water to be licensed or registered, will subsequently come into force one year later on 1 January 2010.
Abstractions of more than 15 cubic metres (3300 gallons) in any 24 hour period will need to be licensed. However, water abstractions from boreholes and wells of up to 15 cubic metres (3300 gallons) in any 24 hour period, and all abstractions of water purely for the domestic purposes of a household (irrespective of quantity), will be exempt from licensing. They will however need to be registered.
Applications to licence or register existing abstractions or impoundments of water (that are not exempt under the Law) will have to be submitted during the first quarter of 2009, to allow time for the issue of licences and registrations that will come into force on 1 January 2010.
For further information, please contact
Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment, Deputy Anne Pryke (tel: 07797 740263)
Colin Cheney, States of Jersey Hydrogeologist (tel: 441602)
gov.je