States Minutes 11th March 1986

THE STATES assembled on Tuesday, 11th March, 1986 at 10.15 a.m. under the Presidency of the Deputy Bailiff , Vernon Amy Tomes, Esquire. ____________

All members were present with the exception of –

Senator John Le Marquand – ill.

Senator Richard Joseph Shenton – absent. Senator Anne Baal – out of the Island.

Winter Chevalier de Gruchy, Connétable of St. Martin – ill.

Sir Martin Le Quesne, Deputy of St. Saviour – out of the Island.

Henri Leon Dubras, Deputy of St. Martin – out of the Island.

____________

Prayers ____________

Subordinate legislation tabled.

The following enactments were laid before the States, namely –

1. Road  Racing  (Motor  Vehicle  Sprints)  (Jersey) Order, 1986. R & O 7473.
2. Road Traffic (Saint Helier) (Amendment No. 12) (Jersey) Order. R & O 7474.

83   Price : 75p

Births, Marriages and Deaths in 1985. R.C.8.

The Etat Civil Committee by Act dated 11th February, 1986, presented to the States a statement of births, marriages and deaths in 1985.

THE STATES ordered that the said statement be printed and distributed.

Jersey Electricity Company Limited – Directors' Report and Accounts for 1985.

The Finance and Economics Committee by Act dated 3rd February, 1986, presented to the States the Jersey Electricity Company Limited Directors' report and statement of accounts for 1985.

Contingencies vote of credit – Education Committee.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 3rd March, 1986, informing the House that it had made available to the Education Committee the sum of £205,000 from the Contingencies vote of credit for making safe two rockfaces at Highlands College.

Matters noted – land transactions.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 16th January, 1986, showing that in pursuance of Standing Orders relating to certain transactions in land, the Committee had approved –

1. as recommended by the Public Health Committee, the leasing to Mr. Barry Clement Rondel of Field 1547, Westmount, St. Helier for a period of one year, with effect from 1st January, 1986, at an annual rent of £50;
2. as recommended by the Resources Recovery Board, the sale to Messrs. Brian Francis Le Fondré, Peter Andrew A'Lee and Royston Albert Allenet of the derelict pumping station together with the land upon which it was situated, at Fairoaks, St. Clement , measuring 446 square feet in area, shown on Plan No. 1049, for a consideration of £30 plus the payment of all legal fees, and subject to the conditions that –

1. the sump was to be filled and the site must be made safe by the purchasers at their cost; and
2. in future the site was to be maintained in a safe and tidy condition by them at their cost;

3. as recommended by the Housing Committee and notwithstanding the deed of arrangement of 28th February, 1984 between the Public of the Island and Bashfords Limited clarifying the boundaries between land in public ownership at Bashfords Nurseries Development and land privately owned by Bashfords Limited –

1. the company's erecting a wall not exceeding three feet in height on the line shown on Drawing No. H.89, the said wall to be owned, without offset, by the owners of 1, Clos Marguerite, with the usual rights of access, maintenance and repair;
2. the southern boundary being an imaginary line drawn along the west face of that wall and extended southwards until reaching the roadway and pavement shown on the said Drawing.

Matters noted – financial transaction.

THE STATES noted an Act of the Finance and Economics Committee dated 3rd March, 1986, showing that in pursuance of Rule 5 of the Public Finances (General) (Jersey) Rules, 1967, as amended, the Committee had noted that the Public Works Committee had accepted the lowest of four tenders received, namely that submitted by B. and C. Construction Limited in the sum of £56,759.74 for the construction of public toilets at Les Laveurs, St. Ouen .

Matters lodged.

The following subjects were lodged "au Greffe" –

1. Draft Merchant Shipping (Deck Officers) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations, 1986. P.34/86. Presented by the Harbours and Airport Committee.
2. Draft Petroleum – Spirit (Control) (Jersey) Regulations, 1986. P.35/86.

Presented by the Defence Committee. The States decided to take this subject into consideration on 8th April, 1986.

Queen's Valley Reservoir – Tests and Samples. Questions and answers.

Senator Jane Patricia Sandeman asked Deputy Donald George Filleul of St. Helier , President of the Public Works Committee the following questions –

"1. Will the President inform the States of the geological

and subsequent chemical tests which have been carried out in the area of the Intermediate dam and the two embankments which will be constructed as part of the Queen's Valley Reservoir?

2. Will the President inform the States as to which microbiological tests have been carried out at the northern end of Queen's Valley where hospital sewage has been disposed of from the time St. Saviour 's Hospital was built until 1973 when the Hospital was put on mains drainage? Has an analysis been made for microbiological hazards?

3. If an analysis has been made –

1. what type of samples have been taken?
2. how were these samples processed?
3. where were the samples taken from?
4. how often were samples taken and processed?
5. which organisms were looked for e.g. enteric viruses?

4. What measures will be taken for the continuous surveillance of the water should the reservoir be built –

1. how often will samples be taken?
2. what will be the size of the samples?
3. what will be the depth and position from which samples are taken?
4. what will be the nature of the samples?
5. which organisms will be looked for?"

The President of the Public Works Committee replied as follows –

"1. The Senator's questions provide the Committee with

an opportunity to reassure the House and the public in respect of certain aspects of the Queen's Valley project, particularly of those concerned with the quality of the product which will emanate from this source.

Geological investigations began in 1975 and have continued as a part of the standard procedures which accompany reservoir design and construction worldwide. The House will be aware that the Queen's Valley project is not the first upon which the Company has been engaged, and its Consultants do little else than design reservoirs. There is no doubt as to their awareness of the requirements to study the site prior to commencing construction. The catalogue of geological reports and data covers many hundreds of pages of intricate detail referring to each and every aspect of the Valley, the proposed main dam and ancillary works, analysis of rock and soil qualities, assessment of tests, borehole results and recommendations in respect of the detailed placings of each feature.

It is a matter of fact that certain elements in dam construction cannot be finalised until the initial foundation excavations are made.

In respect of the intermediate dam, trial holes were taken at an early stage using an excavator and the results obtained were very satisfactory. In accordance with the normal practice mentioned above, the design will be "fine tuned" when the excavation is made.

In the course of this operation it will be seen that much of the present surface will have been disturbed or removed and that chemical tests of the soil currently in situ would be pointless.

However, it is a fact that for fifteen years the Company has been sampling the water quality in the pond below St. Saviour 's Hospital. Abstractions have been contributing to the public water supply via the pipeline to Grands Vaux since 1979. Every month during this period complete chemical and bacteriological tests have been made of samples of water from Queen's Valley and the quality of water sent for treatment from Grands Vaux is tested daily. There has been no material chemical or bacteriological deficiency and it can therefore be confidently anticipated that fears in this respect are groundless.

2. The Company and its Consultants are well aware of the existence prior to 1973 of a sewage treatment plant serving St. Saviour 's Hospital, and although there is scientific and medical evidence to show that little, if any, danger could emanate from this installation, its total removal, together with much of the surrounding soil has always been an integral partof the construction contract.

The plant was decommissioned and cleaned out by the Resources Recovery Board thirteen years ago. From a letter from the Water Research Centre dated 30th January, 1986, I quote –

it is highly unlikely that any disease-causing organisms would still be present in the treatment units. In any case hospital sewage presents no greater hazard to the public than normal domestic sewage. To be absolutely certain it would be prudent to demolish and remove all treatment units and to fill in and seal any underground septic tanks and pipework, covering holes with soil, and to publicise that this is being done.'

All this is being done and had been planned years ago.

It will therefore be appreciated that there has been no requirement for nor could any useful purpose be served by microbiological tests of the kind postulated in the Senator's questions, and therefore no analysis has been made for microbiological hazards in the soil.

3. Even though, in strict terms as a consequence of the negative answer to the second part of Question 2, Question 3 does not call for a reply, it does raise the interesting subject of the virological quality of drinking-water.

If I might quote from the Guidelines for Drinking- Water Quality published by the World Health Organisation in 1984, I can remind the Senator and inform the House that the viruses of major concern in relation to the waterborne transmission of infectious disease are essentially those that multiply in the intestine and are excreted in large numbers in the faeces of infected individuals. Even though replication does not occur outside living hosts, enteric viruses have considerable ability to survive in the aquatic environment and may remain viable for days or months.

It is generally believed that the primary route of exposure to enteric viruses is by direct contact with infected persons or by contact with faecally contaminated objects. However, because of the ability of viruses to survive and because of the low infective dose, exposure and consequent infections may occur by less obvious means, including ingestion of contaminated drinking-water.

When drinking-water is contaminated with sewage, two diseases may occur in epidemic proportions – gastroenteritis and infectious hepatitis. Apart from these infections, there is little, if any, epidemiological evidence to show that adequately treated drinking- water is concerned in the transmission of virus infections.

The World Health Organisation Guidelines go on to state that the most reasonable approach for controlling the transmission of viruses through drinking water is to recommend consistently meeting the treatment criteria that have been found through years of experience to be effective in preventing obvious cases of waterborne viral disease. At the present time, the frequent examination of potable water for the occurrence of faecal indicator bacteria remains the only practical and economical approach for routinely monitoring the microbiological safety of drinking- water.

It must be emphasised that examination of drinking- water for viruses should not supplant bacteriological monitoring or other quality control measures, but should be regarded as augmenting them.

Members will hardly need to be reminded that on several occasions during recent months, I have been pleased to report that professional scrutiny of many aspects of the Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited's operating expertise has attracted nothing but praise. It will come, therefore, as no surprise to learn that for several years past the Company has been taking samples of water from the Island's sources and sending them to the mainland for virological examination.

Many samples of water are taken for different types of examination on an annual, seasonal, monthly, weekly or daily basis. This is done as part of the management of the undertaking to ensure that the water supplied by the Company to its customers is of such a standard that they need never, for so much as a moment, entertain a single anxious thought as to the quality of the water supplied to them.

In conclusion I will quote again from the letter dated 30th January, 1986, addressed to the Managing Director of the Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited by Dr. R.F. Packham, the Assistant Director of the Water Research Centre –

Viruses are quite readily destroyed by oxidising disinfectants such as chlorine. They are also strongly absorbed by clay and silt and during coagulation and filtration treatment. Thus, impoundment and conventional water treatment are almost absolute barriers.'

4. The Company has a high reputation in the industry for its  insistence  of water  quality to be above average standard.

The standards of hygiene and quality currently observed by the Company are those prescribed by the World Health Organisation or by European Directives on Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption. Where one standard is more stringent than the other, then that is the standard applied by the Company. These standards will continue to be applied when Queen's Valley Reservoir is brought into the system and they set out criteria and methods to be used in sampling and analysis.

It should be obvious that no surveillance of the water can be continuous, but Members should be informed that in addition to the regular periodic sampling undertaken by the Company, further sampling is undertaken by the Public Health Department. Additionally, if there is on occasion an outbreak of disease being investigated by the Public Health Department, which could be waterborne, then additional sampling is carried out.

Specific replies to the sub-questions are –

1. In accordance with the standards specified above, it is the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health that the frequency of testing should be greatest during the early life of the reservoir.
2. The investigating laboratory will determine the size of the samples.

3. Samples will be taken at surface and deep levels, from the source of supply to the reservoir, at the point where the water leaves the reservoir and before and particularly after, treatment.
4. Water samples and perhaps samples of algae and fish life.
5. Bacteria – looking for those organisms which can cause infection via the alimentary tract in humans, together with those organisms which are "markers" of the possible pollution of water, all types of algae and viruses."

Purchase of Land at Ouaisné: drainage.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Resources Recovery Board –

1. approved the purchase by the public of the Island from the Seigneurs and Chef Tenants of La Commune de Ouaisné, Mr. Leonard Jagger and Mrs. Vera Jagger, née Waugh, from other known Tenants and from unknown Tenants of La Commune de Ouaisne, of two areas of land measuring 800 square feet and 2,200 square feet respectively, on Ouaisné Common, shown hatched in Green on Plan No. W.S.696, required for the construction of two pumping stations in connexion with the provision of foul drainage sewers to an area of land at Ouaisné and Les Ruisseaux in the Parish of St. Brelade , and authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said plan on behalf of the States;
2. agreed that, if it is not possible to agree a fair and proper price with the owners, the Resources Recovery Board should be empowered, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 3 of the Drainage (Jersey) Law, 1962, to acquire the land in question by compulsory purchase on behalf of the public in accordance with the provisions of the Compulsory Purchase of Land (Procedure) (Jersey) Law, 1961, as amended;

3. authorised the payment or discharge of the expenses to be incurred in connexion with the acquisition of the land and of all interests therein, including the commutation of any Seignorial rights and the payment of all legal expenses, out of the vote of credit granted to the Board under the heading "Extension of Sewers" (C.0452); and
4. authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier of the States to pass on behalf of the public any contracts which it may be found necessary to pass in connexion with the purchase of the said land and any interest therein.

Trade Marks (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 1986. P.3/86.

THE STATES, subject to the sanction of Her Most Excellent Majesty in Council, adopted a Law entitled the Trade Marks (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law, 1986.

Beren-Gaed, St. Saviour 's Road, St. Helier : approval of Drawings. P.24/86.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Housing Committee –

1. approved Drawings Nos. 9,10, 11A, 13,14,15,16,17, and 35 showing the redevelopment of Beren- Gaed, St. Saviour 's Road, St. Helier to provide 12 units of accommodation;
2. authorised the Greffier of the States to sign the said Drawings on behalf of the States.

Beren-Gaed, St. Saviour 's Road, St. Helier : transfer of land.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Housing Committee approved the transfer of administration of a strip of land at St. Saviour 's Road, St. Helier forming the corner of Woodville Avenue opposite the Maternity Hospital and measuring 634 square feet (58.9 square metres) – shown coloured red on Drawing No. 9 – from the Housing Committee to the Public Works Committee.

Residential Children's Homes: provision. P.25/86.

THE STATES, adopting a Proposition of the Education Committee referred to their Act of 26th July, 1983, in which they approved, in principle, the phasing out of the use of Haut de la Garenne as a children's home and its replacement by two smaller independent children's homes and –

1. authorised the immediate purchase by the Education Committee, subject to the approval of the Finance and Economics and Island Development Committees, of a suitable property for use as a small children's home;
2. if the need should subsequently arise, authorised the purchase by the Education Committee, subject to the approval of the Finance and Economics and Island Development Committees, of a second property for use as a small children's home;
3. authorised the Attorney General and the Greffier of the States to pass the necessary contracts in the matter;
4. authorised the Treasurer of the States to make the appropriate payments from the Capital vote of credit granted to the Island Development Committee "Acquisition of Land – Major Reserve" (Vote No. C.0904);

5. in the event of suitable properties not being available for purchase, approved in principle, the construction of up to two purpose-designed children's homes on appropriate sites to be identified in co-operation with the Housing Committee.

Summer Time (Jersey) Act, 1986.

THE STATES, in pursuance of Article 2 of the Summer Time (Jersey) Law, 1972, made an Act entitled the Summer Time (Jersey) Act, 1986.

THE STATES rose at 11.40 a.m.

E.J.M. POTTER, Greffier of the States.