Total cost to date of the British Geological Survey’s investigation of Jersey’s water supplies

1240/5(1941)

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 2003,

BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT

Question 1

Would the President inform members –

( a ) of the total cost to date of the British Geological Survey's investigation of Jersey's water supplies?

(b )  of the approximate percentage of those costs attributable to water resources as opposed to water

quality/pollution? and,

( c ) q u a ntify approximately how many Departmental resources have been absorbed on water resources

issues.

Answer

1.  (a) The costs of consultancy work carried out by the British Geological Survey for the Committee for the last three years is as follows –

2 0 0 1  £9,100 2 0 0 2  £9,866 2 0 0 3 £13,500.

(T  h e increase in costs for 2003 is to provide increased advice with regard to forthcoming legislation, to

help develop data evaluation techniques in order to assist the Section in its new role as regulator and to take a more direct role in the investigation of groundwater pollution incidents under the provisions of the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law).

 ( b) It is quite difficult to give an exact figure for the allocation of these costs to water resources as opposed

to water quality/pollution issues, as this can depend on the exact nature of the work that arises on a day to day basis and some of the work overlaps both water resource and water pollution issues. However, I am advised that approximately 50% of these figures relate purely to water resources issues.

 ( c) The Water Resources Section was set up on 1st January 1998, in order to provide protection for the

aquatic environment of the Island from pollution and to monitor its water resources. The Section currently  has  a  complement  of  9  staff.  The  work  of  the  Section  is  largely  concerned  with  the implementation and administration of the Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000, drinking water quality regulation, waste management regulation and related issues. However, the Section does play a vital role in the management of water resources of the Island, including the monitoring of groundwater levels and the development of legislation. I am advised that no more than 10% of the daily workload of the Section is directly concerned with water resource management issues at this time. However, this could change significantly if the draft Water Resources Law is approved and implemented.

Question 2

As the consultation period for the Draft Water Resources Law has finished would the President advise members which bodies/organisations the Committee consulted with and the number of submissions that were made?

Answer

The following persons, bodies and organisations have been consulted with regard to the provisions of the draft Water Resources (Jersey) Law –

o f th e draft Water Resources (Jersey) Law –

A l l S ta tes members

th e H e alth and Social Services Committee

th e E c onomic Development Committee

t t he Education, Sport and Culture Committee

th e P u blic Services Department

th e Je r sey New Waterworks Company Ltd.

th e Je r sey Farmers' Union

m e m bers of the Water Resources Steering Group re p r esentatives of the Well Drillers

re p r esentatives of the Water Diviners

th e C h amber of Commerce

th e Je r sey Brewery

G o l f C ourses

th e Je r sey Milk Marketing Board

th e B r itish Geological Survey (BGS).

To date, 14 submissions have been received by the Committee. One consultee, namely the Jersey Farmers' Union, has asked for additional time to respond. Officers will now consider these submissions in detail, and this may include follow up meetings with respondents, before reporting back to the Committee in due course.