Pesticide in water to be allowed over legal limits

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce has agreed to Jersey Water’s application for a three-year ‘dispensation’ to allow the chemical Oxadixyl to exceed the legal limit in Island mains water.

Oxadixyl, a pesticide which was used on potato crops up to 2003, then withdrawn due to falling sales, was found in untreated water samples earlier this year when Jersey Water changed the laboratory it uses for testing water samples.

The water company has recently returned Val de la Mare reservoir to service after a period out of use due to levels of the Oxadixyl in the streams feeding the reservoir. 

Oxadixyl levels found were tiny, but still contravened Jersey laws. Deputy Luce’s decision means if Oxadixyl levels at Val de la Mare rise as expected due to less rainfall, Jersey Water can use the temporary ‘dispensation,’ or exemption, to allow it to use the reservoir without breaking the law.

The ministerial decision, published today, states that the dispensation is for three years and the Environment Minister has granted it, subject to a number of conditions designed to safeguard water supplies and consumer health. 

On condition is a requirement to develop a long term plan for dealing with Oxadixyl and explore treatment options for the chemical, and to communicate regularly about the progress of work on a new desalination plant. 

Deputy Steve Luce said: “The most recent test results show no change in water quality from previous weeks, so I’m pleased that’s remaining stable. However, until such time as Jersey Water can find a way to remove Oxadixyl from our untreated water supplies and there’s no guarantee that this is possible, then the dispensation, under strict conditions, is a pragmatic solution. 

“My department is in the final stages of developing a developing a water plan to tackle some of the pressures on our water environment, one of which is clearly pesticides and in due course we may have to consider new measures to control the use of pesticides and fertilisers to protect our water in the future.”

Last week’s water quality tests results show levels of pesticides in the water are relatively stable, with no significant increase or decrease.

Helier Smith, Jersey Water’s Chief Executive, said: “The need for a dispensation in this instance is principally a legal and regulatory compliance matter rather than a health-based issue. The water that we supply will remain safe to drink. The presence of Oxadixyl in Val de la Mare reservoir and elsewhere is historic and has arisen due to factors outside of the company’s control.  We are working hard to find a way to remove Oxadixyl through treatment but in the meantime will work to complying with the lower regulatory limit where it is practical for us to do so.” 

Val de la Mare Reservoir represents 35% of the company’s water storage capacity.  The company has now brought the reservoir back into service during the summer which will allow Queen’s Valley and Grands Vaux time to refill.  

Mr Smith said: “Our laboratories have stepped up their testing programmes to monitor water sources supplying our reservoirs and will continue to report any environmental breaches.”