PFAS concentrations in washwater treatment and disposal

2026.03.24

3.6   Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Mary , St. Ouen and St. Peter of the Minister for Treasury and

Resources regarding PFAS concentrations in washwater treatment cake (OQ.44/2026):

Will the Minister, as shareholder representative, advise what information, if any, she has received from Jersey Water in relation to P.F.A.S. concentrations in washwater treatment cake and what discussions, if any, have taken place regarding its disposal; and if no such discussions have taken place, will she explain why not?

Deputy M.E. Millar of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity (The Minister for Treasury and

Resources):

I thank the Deputy for her question. I have, of course, had briefings with Jersey Water in my shareholder capacity. As part of those discussions, the concentration of P.F.A.S. in washwater treatment cake has been mentioned at a high level, as well as potential options and indeed challenges for disposal of that cake. However, the more detailed discussions, which relate largely to operational matters, are in the best place with the Minister for the Environment and the scientific panel, who are the experts in the subject.

1. Deputy K.L. Moore :

I do believe the scientific panel have raised concerns about the washwater cake, its disposal, but also its storage while we wait for disposal and any potential that it might have been spread in the past on land, which could again contribute to concentration of P.F.A.S. in our system. Therefore, what urgency is the Minister placing on finding solutions to this issue?

Deputy M.E. Millar :

Without going into the debate that we will have later on the Minister's proposition, this is very much part of the ongoing debate. I am not a scientist. I do not protest any expertise in this. We have not discussed how far wastewater treatment cake has been disclosed in the past, but my understanding is that this is one of the crucial things that has to be looked at going forward. My non-scientific understanding is that the treatment cake will absorb P.F.A.S. It will reach a saturation point. We do not yet know, without further testing, at what point is the saturation point of that cake. Whether that occurs after 2 weeks, 4 weeks or 6 weeks. So that there will be a cost to how often. My belief, which could be wrong, is that it can be cleansed and reused. There would be a cost to doing that, and there is a cost to disposal. Those are all things that Jersey Water is still working through in connection with its ongoing work in terms of how we reduce levels of P.F.A.S. further. I would just take the opportunity to remind everybody again, that our water is already comfortably under existing U.K. (United Kingdom) and E.U. (European Union) standards, and is safe to drink.

2. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier North :

I would like to take it back to the original question and I would like to check with the Minister if, as a shareholder, she has requested formal assurance from Jersey Water regarding the management and disposal of the P.F.A.S. related materials?

[10:15]

Deputy M.E. Millar :

No, as a shareholder, I have not asked for that assurance. That is an operational matter that sits with the Minister as regulator in terms of the ongoing work on reducing P.F.A.S. I have to remind Members again that, as shareholder, my principal concern is the governance of the company and its financial stability, it is well operated, and operational decisions about what they do on a day-to-day basis. In the case of States-owned entities, it sits with another Minister who establishes the policy for that company and monitors policy aspects on a daily basis. That is not the full extent of my role.

3. Deputy I. Gardiner :

I am sure that the Minister would agree that the financial stability of the company depends on the operational matters as well. Because the Minister referred to different Ministers - which several Ministers are involved - does the Minister consider that the current shareholder oversight arrangements are sufficient for an issue of this environmental and public health significance?

Deputy M.E. Millar :

Yes, I believe they are, and the financial impacts are largely why I brought my amendment to the proposition.

4. Deputy K.L. Moore :

Clearly there is a conflict here between the financial aspect of the Minister's role but also her collective responsibilities in terms of protecting public health and the health of Islanders. How does the Minister weigh up those responsibilities and decide which is heavier in that balance?

Deputy M.E. Millar :

The only way of addressing this; I think conflict of interest is more perceived than real. The only way we can avoid any conflict of interest is to sell Jersey Water and privatise it completely. If we are going to own a water company, then we have to recognise that we have an interest in how it is regulated. The Minister is responsible for regulation. As he says, this has been discussed at high level at C.O.M., and I am quite sure that ... well, the minutes are possibly not that detailed, but I am sure that my question at C.O.M. would have been: why is Jersey apparently leading the charge on this? There are lots of discussions to be had on this, but we cannot ... I think it would be rash and irresponsible to agree to a regulatory standard that Jersey Water simply cannot afford to meet, or it cannot afford to ... it is forced into the most expensive option. But that is pre-judging our debate that we will be having later in the sitting.