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

COMMON STRATEGIC POLICY 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): TWENTY- FIFTH AMENDMENT

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1 PAGE 2 –

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

1. 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".

2. on page 16 of the report, after the words "Les Quennevais in St. Brelade." there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"We will invest in improving water quality, including ensuring that the recommendations of the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel are given full and  transparent  consideration  in  developing  Jersey's  approach  to environmental contamination."".

DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE

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 –

1. 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".

2. on page 16 of the report, after the words "Les Quennevais in St. Brelade." there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"We will invest in improving water quality, including ensuring that the recommendations of the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel are given full

and  transparent  consideration  in  developing  Jersey's  approach  to environmental contamination."".

REPORT

I am submitting this amendment, firstly because Deputy Maltman is unable to present her amendment in person and I do not wish that the good work of the Deputy is lost. Secondly, I also think that she has identified an important issue in terms of water quality, including in the well-publicised area of PFAS. This is something that is of special concern to a particular section of my own St. Brelade constituents, as it is for many Islanders who currently live, or have lived, in the West of the Island.

As such, I am happy to propose this amendment for a fellow Deputy who represents the adjoining constituency to my own.

This amendment replicates the  eleventh amendment, as  amended, to the proposed Common Strategic Policy 2026-2030 ("CSP").

The full report to the eleventh amendment is provided in Appendix A or can be read here – https://www.statesassembly.je/publications/amendments/2026/p-75-2026-amd-(11)

And the report to the amendment to the eleventh amendment is provided in Appendix B or can be read here – https://www.statesassembly.je/publications/amendments/2026/p-75-2026-amd-(11)- amd

Financial and staffing implications

Financial  and  staffing  implications  are  set  out  within  the  report  to  the  eleventh amendment.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to the eleventh amendment to the CSP and is available to read on the States Assembly website, at the following link – https://www.statesassembly.je/publications/cria/2026/p-75-2026-amd-(11)-add

Appendix A

Report of the Eleventh Amendment to the Common Strategic Policy 2026-2030

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.

Appendix B

Report of the Amendment to the Eleventh Amendment to the Common Strategic Policy 2026-2030

This amendment seeks to make the original amendment less prescriptive regarding the recommendations of the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel by removing the requirement to  implement  the  recommendations  and  instead  requesting  full  and  transparent consideration of the recommendations.

The work of the Panel has been extensive and requires due consideration by the Government and the Assembly. The public interest in this matter requires that that consideration is transparent and thoughtful.

Taking the recommendations forward will require a careful assessment of how they might inform the development of the Island's approach to environmental contamination and this amendment ensures a considered rather than a prescriptive approach.