Utility keeping on top of PFAS science latest as it develops

The utility monitors the island’s streams and drinking water for PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals used in thousands of products which accumulate in the human body and have been linked to a range of serious diseases.

‘Guernsey Water is part of a UK water industry network that is co-ordinating research and responding to changes in water quality standards as they develop in response to emerging PFAS science,’ said water quality risk manager Daffyd Griffiths.

‘The latest guidance for UK water companies means that they must prepare to meet new standards by 2030. Guernsey Water has made similar provisions within its own plans.’

One high-profile source of PFAS found in water and soil locally was an ingredient, known as PFOS, contained in firefighting foam used at Guernsey and Alderney airports from the 1970s until the early 2000s.

In Jersey, where the foam was also used and later found in water supplies, an independent scientific advisory panel set up by the States recently recommended that some residents should undergo a blood replacement therapy, known as bloodletting, to reduce high concentrations of PFAS. Its recommendation made national news headlines.

Guernsey residents should have no similar concerns, said Tobin Cook, director of environmental health and pollution regulation.

‘The position in Guernsey is different from that in Jersey,’ he said.

‘Islanders can be reassured that in Guernsey we have a multi-agency group that reviews the local situation regarding PFAS, as well as considering global developments and reviewing standards and actions that are being taken in other jurisdictions.’

David De Lisle, who has campaigned for tougher environmental standards since entering the States, believed more needed to be done to deal with the effects of PFOS.

‘The water supply was definitely polluted. It was never resolved satisfactorily. We have still not had a comprehensive clear up,’ he said.

Mr Griffiths said Guernsey Water spent nearly £250,000 last year on tests to ensure the island had ‘excellent’ supplies of drinking water.

Local testing has included monitoring PFAS for nearly 20 years. Last year nearly 7,500 tests were carried out and assessed against strict UK water supply standards. 99.95% complied with these standards, and 100% compliance was achieved with PFAS standards in drinking water.

Mr Griffiths said that monitoring of the levels of key PFAS compounds in local streams since 2007 showed that concentrations were declining very slowly over time.

‘Ongoing monitoring and choosing carefully which streams to collect water from has proven to be an effective method of reducing the concentration of PFAS in drinking water,' he said.

The States originally claimed that the cost of dealing with PFOS contamination could reach at least £27m. It started legal proceedings against PFOS manufacturer 3M and rejected an offer of £3.25m. to settle the claim. But in 2016 the States dropped the case and had to pay both sides’ legal bills, which totalled nearly £8m.

Jersey received a £2.6m. settlement from 3M, but controversially agreed to assist the company defending any future claims.

‘Guernsey going for £27m. was ridiculous given the knowledge of what was happening on this issue elsewhere in the world,’ said Deputy De Lisle.

‘The island ended up paying out millions when we could have received millions. A big mistake was made. I was very disappointed about that at the time and I am still very disappointed about it now.’