PFAS - Contamination sources

​Request 764597429 

In the light of the current concerns over the historic use and risks posed by PFAS across the Island is the Government keeping proper records of other potential contamination sources?

1. How much sewage sludge / Biosolids waste has been spread upon agricultural land over the last 5 years?

Are there records of every field number upon which it has been dumped?
How many of those fields are in water catchment areas, either Jersey Water or private?

2. The same questions applied to the 'Sea Lettuce' algae removed from Island beaches please? Is it allowed to drain of salt water prior to being spread upon the land please?

3. The same questions applied to the 'slurry' or manure produced by agricultural activities please? 

Clarification Request 

Are there records of every field number upon which it has been dumped?

Is it allowed to drain of salt water prior to being spread upon the land please? 

Clarification Response 

“Does the government have a list of every field upon which 'Sea Lettuce' algae has been dumped / spread? 

Is there any requirement to 'de-salt' the material prior to spreading? This is very important because the salt in seawater is damaging to soil especially agricultural soil / land." 

Response 

1

17,679m3 sewage sludge / Biosolids waste has been spread upon agricultural land over the last 5 years 

The Scheduled Public Authority (SPA) hold records of the fields where the sewage sludge / Biosolids waste has been spread and Biosolids are applied to land in accordance with the Water Pollution Code of Good Agricultural Practice (“The Water Code") meaning applications are never within 10m of a ditch or watercourse and never within 50m of a well, spring or borehole. 

2

34,560m3 sea lettuce waste has been spread upon agricultural land over the last 5 years. 

The Scheduled Public Authority (SPA) hold records of the fields where the sea lettuce has been spread and Sea lettuce is applied to land in accordance with the Water Pollution Code of Good Agricultural Practice (“The Water Code") meaning applications are never within 10m of a ditch or watercourse and never within 50m of a well, spring or borehole. 

The sea lettuce is partially drained at collection. Salt content is monitored and spread rates are calculated accordingly. 

3

The requested information related to the 'slurry' or manure produced by agricultural activities is not held by the SPA; therefore Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

Articles applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority"

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.​​