Jersey Water is weighing up different technologies to remove all traces of PFAS from the island’s drinking water – but has said it won’t be able to make a final decision on which to use until the Government sets out new regulatory limits for the chemicals later this year.
The utility company confirmed it is currently assessing a range of options, including granular activated carbon, ion exchange, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis as possible treatment methods.
Each option removes PFAS in a different way, and has its own strengths and weaknesses depending on the type of PFAS found in the water and the water chemistry of the site.
Jersey Water explained that the choice of technology and the timing of any installation will depend on the regulatory standards the Government decides to adopt – and when they come into force.
It comes after an independent study by environment consultancy Arcadis revealed that PFAS – so-called “forever chemicals” historically used in firefighting foam at the Airport’s fire training ground – had spread further west through groundwater and streams than earlier assessments had indicated.
Originally thought to be mainly confined to the area in St Peter beneath the runway, the PFAS “plume” has now been found to stretch further across the St Ouen’s Bay and Pont Marquet catchment areas.
The findings have triggered what officials have also described as the most coordinated response to PFAS contamination in Jersey to date – with the Government, Jersey Water, and Ports of Jersey agreeing to take joint responsibility for delivering those actions.
A new steering group, made up of officials from these organisations, has been formed to oversee the response by coordinating testing, water supply changes, and long-term remediation work.
Jersey Water has said it has already been working on possible treatment options and is monitoring international best practice as part of that process:
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) is a process whereby water gravitates through a bed of porous carbon granules which adsorbs and removes contaminants. Other pre-treatment processes are usually required, and GAC media needs to be replaced or regenerated when its adsorption capacity is exhausted.
- Ion Exchange (IEX) is a process whereby water is contacted with synthetic resin beads which selectively remove certain types of contaminants based on their ionic charge (it is unlikely that a single resin will remove all types of PFAS due to the varying nature of these compounds). Other pre-treatment processes are usually required and IEX resin needs to be replaced or regenerated when its adsorption capacity is exhausted.
- Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis are pressure-driven processes whereby water is filtered by membranes with small and very small pore sizes, respectively. The selection of the most effective treatment depends on the nature of the PFAS compounds in the water being treated. Other pre-treatment processes are usually required and there will be waste streams which must be managed.
Jersey Water CEO Helier Smith has sought to reassure islanders by reiterating that the island’s mains water is fully compliant with UK and EU limits for PFAS.
He added that independent testing showed Jersey Water’s supplies are on average 70% below those thresholds.
In March, the utility company said it would “work closely” with the Government to determine the best PFAS treatment option – and how it will be funded – after the Environment Minister cited the estimated costs of one potential method as being upwards of £20m.
Speaking to Express at the time, Jeanette Sheldon, Jersey Water’s head of water quality, said the utility company had been investigating treatment options “for some time”.
But she noted that Jersey Water “will only be able to determine the most appropriate solution for the island once the Government of Jersey has set the regulatory limits for PFAS”.
The Government has also pledged to introduce stricter PFAS regulations later this year and invest in treatment technology to remove all traces of the so-called “forever chemicals” from Jersey’s water supply.
The commitment came after a petition calling for a Government-funded treatment plant gained nearly 1,300 signatures.
The public petition, 'Clean Jersey's water, build a treatment plant and improve PFAS related healthcare,' has received a response from the Minister for the Environment, and the Minister for Health and Social Services, after gaining more than 1,000 signatures.
— States Assembly – Jersey's elected parliament (@StatesAssembly) February 27, 2025
You can read their… pic.twitter.com/cOcg6G92QU
The petition, launched by former Deputy Paul Le Claire, also urged Ministers to adopt international best practices for regulating PFAS and set up healthcare services for testing and treatment.
Mr Le Claire also pointed to a multi-million dollar treatment plant in the north of Australia as a potential model solution for keeping Jersey’s PFAS levels in check in future.
“International models, like Australia’s $30m treatment plant in Katherine, provide effective solutions to mitigate contamination,” he said.
Responding to the petition, Environment Minister Steve Luce confirmed the Government is looking at similar technologies.
He said: “Reviewing international regulatory standards and treatment technologies helps inform our approach and ensure it is appropriate for the water management systems operated in Jersey.
“The example of Australia’s $30m treatment plant in Katherine is a valuable model, and we are considering similar solutions to mitigate contamination effectively.”
Deputy Luce also announced that Jersey will introduce its own PFAS regulations later this year.
“I meet regularly with Jersey Water, who are committed to implementing treatment technology to reduce PFAS and nitrates in our water supply,” he said.
“Jersey Water has undertaken significant work reviewing the options.
“I am confident that when I bring forward a Jersey Regulatory standard for PFAS later this year, Jersey Water will be in an advanced position to implement treatment in their two water plants.”