Jersey set to introduce legal limits on PFAS in drinking water

Jersey is set to introduce a legal cap on PFAS in drinking water for the first time, under new regulations lodged with the States Assembly.

The proposed rules would set a maximum level of four nanograms per litre for the chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment. Jersey Water would have up to five years to bring supplies into line with the new standard.

The government has stressed that the island’s mains water already complies with existing UK and EU requirements and that there is no immediate risk to consumers.

Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce said the move marked a significant step in strengthening water quality protections. Under the Water (Jersey) Law 1972, drinking water is assessed against a list of chemical criteria to determine whether it is safe. PFAS would be added to that list for the first time.

The change follows recommendations from the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel, which advised that a limit of four nanograms per litre should be introduced for the combined concentration of four PFAS substances in public water supplies, with a five-year implementation period.

Deputy Luce said the new statutory standard would help safeguard Jersey’s drinking water in the long term, adding that current PFAS levels in mains water should not be a cause for concern.