The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(2099)
QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 11th MAY 2004,
BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT
Question
Would the President advise members –
- how many staff at the Health and Social Services Department are currently employedonwater pollution, quality monitoringand related health aspects?and,
- whether the Committee monitors the level of chlorine in Jersey's mains water and, if so, give figures showing how it compares with the guidelines the Committee uses in view of recent concernsexpressedin the U.K. regarding chlorinein drinking water?
Answer
"(a) Health protection within Public Health Services employs 0.4FTE to monitor water supplies. This is almost
entirely sampling private water supplies at the request of the owner/occupier of the property. A fee is charged which covers the cost of the analysis.
A ll other responsibilities for monitoring the Water Law requirements for mains water supplies lie with the
Water Resources Section of the Environment Department, though they will refer issues relating to health to the Assistant Director - Health Protection and the Medical Officer of Health.
(b) The Jersey New Waterworks Company monitor the levels of chlorine (amongst other things) weekly and supplies details to Water Resources and to Health Protection. The analysis is carried out in the States' Analyst department. The aim is to maintain a level of 0.5mg/l when water leaves the treatment plant and a level of around 0.1-0.05mg/l at the tap. A review of recent data confirms chlorine levels of this order. Most public health interest is in ensuring high enough levels throughout the whole distribution system to keep the water safe. There are no local, U.K. or E.U. upper levels for chlorine though the American Environmental Protection Agency has a 'maximum residual disinfectant level goal' of 4mg/l - far higher than levels found in Jersey."