Jersey Water has sought to reassure islanders about the safety of their drinking water in a new report which shows the island’s supply continues to meet strict regulatory standards – despite what is described as widespread “misinformation” and growing public concern about water quality.
The utility company has recorded 100% compliance with drinking-water-quality regulations, based on more than 12,900 tests carried out between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.
Samples were taken from water leaving treatment works, from treated water storage reservoirs and directly from customers’ taps.
In addition to mandatory regulatory testing, Jersey Water carried out a further 43,783 tests on water taken from streams and its six reservoirs to check raw water quality before treatment.
These tests covered more than 100 bacteria, pathogens and chemicals, as well as screening for over 450 different chemical substances.
Jersey Water said the findings are particularly important at a time when public interest in water quality is high, and concerns about substances such as PFAS – so-called ‘forever chemicals’ that have been linked to certain health conditions – and nitrates have been amplified by “misinformation”.
Jersey Water chief executive Helier Smith said: “Our priority is and always will be to supply water that is safe, clean and reliable.
“Over the past decade, we have maintained high levels of water quality, and this year was no exception, with nearly 13,000 tests confirming 100% compliance with regulatory standards.
“Islanders can therefore have confidence in the quality of their water supply.”
Mr Smith added that Jersey Water continues to work with the Government and other agencies on an island-wide approach to managing potential threats to water quality, including PFAS and nitrates.
“While water treatment and environmental remediation are vital, tackling pollution at its source is equally crucial,” he said.
“Manufacturers have a key role to play, but as consumers we also need to be more conscious of what our everyday products contain and the long-term impact they may have on the environment and our water resources.”
Jeanette Sheldon, head of water quality at Jersey Water, said that an independent panel of international experts looking at PFAS across Jersey has stated that “there is no cause for concern” with the current supply of mains drinking water.
She also noted that recommendations for introducing specific PFAS limits were described by the panel as “precautionary”.
“We support steps to introduce a new limit and, in the meantime, will continue our work to trial treatment solutions so that we maintain high levels of water quality both now and into the future,” she added.
In the report, Ms Sheldon explained that “public interest in water quality has never been higher”.
She continued: “Against this backdrop, we remain more committed than ever to protecting the island’s drinking water.
“As science, regulation and customer expectations evolve, so does our approach to our work. We are continuously enhancing our monitoring and testing, investing in infrastructure and sharing more information with the public, to make sure islanders can have confidence in the safety and reliability of their supply.
“Beyond our day-to-day technical operations, a large part of our work is increasingly focused on engaging with the public: educating, informing and addressing concerns, while actively countering misinformation and misunderstanding around water quality.”