Submission - Jersey Water re Government Plan - 3 October 2019

Connetable M Jackson

Chair

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

By email

3 October 2019  Our ref  HJS

Dear Connetable

Government Plan Review - Request for written submission

I write in reply to your letter dated 16th September 2019, requesting Jersey Water's view on certain aspects of the plan. I am pleased to provide our thoughts below.

• CSP3-2-11 - Rural Economy Strategy (Page 65 in R.91/2019)

The narrative indicates that "Funding will include support for public good enhancements, which would include the protection and stewardship of natural resources through, for example, the delivery of those elements within the Water  Management  Plan  that  deal  with  agricultural  diffuse  pollution, encouraging the provision of measures to achieve a 10-15% reduction target in the use of nitrogen based fertiliser.."

Unfortunately, there is insufficient detail within the proposal to understand the specific measures that will be implemented or whether the sums allocated are sufficient to deliver the wide range of outcomes listed.

It should be noted that there are three elements to the Water Management Plan for Jersey (published in 2016) that were due to be delivered by the Government of Jersey and that are overdue:

1. Water Quality and Catchment Orders (WCMOs) and the new WaterCode. These providetheregulatoryenvironment within which the application of nitrates canbe managed and best practiceguidance on managingpollution risks.
2. The appointment of a Catchment Officer whoserole is toinclude both an advisory and compliance/ enforcement function under theWaterCode and related regulations and orders.
3. A review of thePesticide (Jersey) Law. With a view to managing the risks that pesticides present to water quality in the island.

Items  1  and  2  would  seem  to  be  covered  by  the  statement  above  but clarification would be beneficial and there is no mention of a review of the pesticides legislation that is necessary to safeguard the public water supply.

Jersey Water and the farming community have invested considerable sums of money and a huge amount of time in making the work of the Action for Cleaner

Mulcaster House, Westmount Road, St. Helier , Jersey, JE1 1DG

Telephone: 01534 707300 Facsimile: 01534 707400 Email: info@jerseywater.je Website: www.jerseywater.je

Jersey Water is the trading name of The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited.

Government Plan Review - Request JerseyWater  for written submission

3 October 2019

Water Group (ACWG) a success and have both delivered their elements of the Water Management Plan to date. As a result, more progress has been made in improving water quality in Jersey over the past 3 years than in the previous 20. In order to ensure this success can be maintained, it is now vital that the commitments to the ACWG and the public by the Government of Jersey are honoured and the overdue elements of the Water Management Plan are fully funded and delivered without further delay. Accordingly, the delivery of the Water Management Plan should, in our view, be prioritised within this project.

• Countryside access (Page 89 in R.91/2019)

Jersey Water maintains, at its own cost, Val de La Mare and Queens Valley Reservoirs open to the public for their enjoyment and recreation. We also host numerous other pathways across our land (maintained by us and various other public bodies). Whilst the current infrastructure serves its purpose, there is always the opportunity for additional benefits from a more strategic and joined up approach to managing these important assets. As such we would support the overall objective and ambition but, without further information, do not have a view on questions 3, 6 and 7 in respect of this project.

I would be very pleased, if you would find it helpful, to meet and discuss this further with you or members of your team. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Helier Smith Chief Executive

HJS

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