Common Strategic Policy 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): eleventh amendment. Water quality and environmental contamination

Published on: 26 October 2026

Debate date: 10 November 2026

Reference: P.75/2026 Amd.(11).

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COMMON STRATEGIC POLICY 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): ELEVENTH AMENDMENT

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1 PAGE 2 –

After the words "report accompanying this Proposition" insert the words – ", except that –

on page 16 of the report, after action 9.3 there should be inserted the following action –

"9.4 Improve water quality and address environmental contamination, including taking forward the recommendations of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel".

on page 16 of the report, after the words "Les Quennevais in St. Brelade." insert the paragraph –

"We will invest in reducing environmental contamination and improving water quality, including implementation of the recommendations of the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel. This will positively impact the health and wellbeing of future generations, and contribute to safeguarding Jersey's countryside, coast and biodiversity."".

DEPUTY A. MALTMAN OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER

Note: After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 18(2)(e) of the States of Jersey Law 2005, to approve the statement of the Common Strategic Policy of the Council of Ministers as set out in the report accompanying this Proposition, except that –

on page 16 of the report, after action 9.3 there should be inserted the following action –

"9.4 Improve water quality and address environmental contamination, including taking forward the recommendations of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel".

on page 16 of the report, after the words "Les Quennevais in St. Brelade." insert the paragraph –

REPORT

Environmental contamination affects us all, impacting the air we breathe, the water we drink, the Island's biodiversity and resources and therefore our economy and the quality of our lives. It is incumbent on the Government of Jersey to prioritise reducing environmental contamination, including the contamination of our water by PFAS.

While the Proposed Common Strategic Policy currently includes delivering "practical improvements to Jersy's countryside, coast and biodiversity through closer partnership with farmers, landowners, fishers and communities" reducing environmental contamination is not mentioned. This amendment aims to make explicit the importance of combating the contamination of our land, water and air with particular focus on the impact of PFAS on the health and wellbeing of future generations of Islanders.

The contamination specifically identified within this amendment is that of PFAS, due to the level and impact of these chemicals. However, it should be noted that there are multiple other areas of concern and improvement that should be prioritised and implemented by the Government.

One example are the recommendations included within the Water quality monitoring of ponds across Jersey, 2024 report (published in March 2026) (the Pond Report'). These are the results of a comprehensive water quality monitoring programme in 2024, the key findings of which were that nine parameters out of twenty-five exceeded the upper limit of UK pond ranges.

Source: Water quality monitoring of ponds across Jersey report 2024

The Pond Report included a number of recommendations – the intention of this Amendment is that the findings of such reports as this are not put to one side but are given the consideration and importance that they deserve.

Another safeguard to be considered is based upon the following statement within the Bridging Island Plan –

"It is important that the island's aquifers and watercourses are protected from pollution, so as to maintain a high-quality water supply and prevent harm to the natural environment and ecosystems."

Within this term we are likely to see either a new Island Plan or revisions to the Bridging Island Plan. This amendment would take a step to ensure that the importance of water quality controls and protections are maintained and included.

PFAS recommendations

The Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel (the Panel) set out 31 recommendations in its Report 4 – PFAS and the Environment (p. 8-9) published in July of this year. These recommendations covered a range of areas –

- Standard for PFAS levels in water and monitoring that standard (recommendations 1-4)

- Interim and longer-term treatments to reduce PFAS (recommendations 5-8)

- PFAS levels in mains and borehole water (recommendations 9 and 10)

- In-home treatment for PFAS (recommendations 11-14)

- Mitigating and monitoring the impact of PFAS on animals and land (recommendations 15-22)

- Mitigating and monitoring the impact of PFAS on water (recommendations 23 and 24)

- Treatment systems for PFAS, including the consideration of the lifecycle of the system (recommendations 25 and 26)

- Organic residuals and seaweed in relation to PFAS (recommendations 27-29)

- Destruction or containment of PFAS contaminated material (recommendations 30 and 31)

By prioritising taking forward these recommendations in the Common Strategic Policy the years of work and expertise that went into these recommendations would be acknowledged and the importance of the work highlighted.

Beyond expert analysis, public and States Assembly attention on the issue of PFAS contamination should warrant the inclusion of this matter and the broader problem of environmental contamination in the Common Strategy Policy. There have been two petitions brought by the public which have each received more than one thousand signatures –

Clean Jersey's water, build a treatment plant & improve PFAS related healthcare

- 1,372 signatures, now closed

Install PFAS-removal water and air filters in schools and public buildings

- 1,146 signatures, now closed

Furthermore, 35 Written and Oral Questions have been lodged in the States Assembly on the topic of PFAS.

Finally, the Government lodged legislation in the previous political term to set the standard level for PFAS in water at 4 ng/l, implementing one of the Panel's recommendations. The Draft Water Law (Jersey) Amendment Regulations 202- then garnered two amendments and an amendment to an amendment but failed to reach

second reading after it was called in to be reviewed by scrutiny and therefore fell away due to the end of the political term.

This stalled attempt to follow through on one of the recommendations of the Panel only illustrates how important it is that this work is prioritised and progressed by this Government in this political term.

Financial and staffing implications

Various decisions and prioritisations will need to be made by Government and relevant Departments as to how environmental contamination can be reduced and water quality improved, including assessing how the Panel's recommendations can best be taken forward. The initial work should sit within operational budgets.

In terms of the recommendations of the Independent PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel in their final report, these are being assessed and a Government response will be published later in the year which should include costings. Consistently achieving a statutory level of 4ng/l would, according to Jersey Water's letter to the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel regarding Proposition P.26/2026, require "the construction of major new infrastructure that does not currently exist in Jersey". The cost implications will form part of the Government review.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.