Guernsey Water standards reached 99.95% in tests in 2024 – BBC

Guernsey Water Quality Report 2024: Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals

Achieving SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Guernsey Water’s 2024 water quality report demonstrates significant progress towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which targets clean water and sanitation for all. The findings underscore a commitment to providing safe and reliable drinking water to the island’s population, a cornerstone of public health and well-being as outlined in SDG 3.

• High Compliance Rate: An overall compliance rate of 99.95% with UK drinking water standards was achieved, indicating a robust water management system.
• Substantial Water Provision: A total of 4,395 million litres of safe drinking water was supplied throughout the year.
• Rigorous Testing Regime: The high compliance was verified through a comprehensive sampling program, with only three minor breaches recorded out of more than 6,000 tests conducted.

Infrastructure and Resilience for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Investment in resilient infrastructure is critical for ensuring long-term water security and supporting SDG 11, which aims to make communities sustainable. Guernsey Water’s management of its distribution network and response to quality breaches highlight this focus.

• Extensive Distribution Network: Safe water was successfully delivered through a 420km network of water mains.
• Proactive Infrastructure Investment: The report emphasizes that ongoing investment in infrastructure is vital to prepare for population growth and ensure the continued quality of the island’s water supply for future generations.
• Incident Management and Remediation: The operational response to the three recorded breaches demonstrates a commitment to maintaining water safety.

1. A breach at the Juas water treatment works was identified, and subsequent re-samples returned clear, resolving the issue promptly.
2. A single sample from the West Tank at the Forest Road Treated Service Reservoir resulted in two breaches.
3. As a precautionary measure, the West Tank was removed from the supply network to allow for investigations and upgrades, which were completed in 2025 before it was safely returned to service.

Addressing Contamination Challenges for SDG 12 and SDG 15

The report also identifies ongoing challenges related to pollution, directly impacting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The contamination of water sources by pesticides remains a key area of concern.

• Pesticide Contamination: Water from the Vale Pond catchment could not be collected due to persistent pesticide contamination, limiting available water resources.
• Glyphosate Level Increase: While levels of glyphosate in untreated water had been decreasing, a spike was observed in 2024. This increase is strongly suggestive of irresponsible pesticide application ahead of forecast rainfall.
• Call for Responsible Practices: The findings serve as a critical reminder of the need for responsible pesticide use to protect water sources, aligning with the goals of reducing pollution and protecting terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on the provision of safe drinking water, compliance with water quality standards, infrastructure maintenance, and challenges related to water contamination from pesticides. It directly addresses the core mission of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s emphasis on achieving “99.95% compliance with UK drinking water standards” and managing contamination breaches is directly linked to protecting public health. Ensuring water is safe to drink prevents waterborne diseases and reduces illnesses from chemical contaminants like pesticides, which aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article mentions investing in infrastructure to prepare for “population growth on the island” and ensuring the continued quality of the water supply. This connects to making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by providing essential services like a reliable and safe water supply.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

   The article directly addresses this target by stating that Guernsey Water “provided 4,395 million litres of safe drinking water in 2024” and transferred it through “420km (260.98 miles) of water main and into islanders’ taps, toilets, showers and appliances.” The high compliance rate with drinking water standards further supports the achievement of providing safe water.

2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…

   This target is highlighted by the challenges mentioned in the article. The report shows that water from the “Vale Pond catchment could still not be collected due to pesticide contamination.” Furthermore, the discussion about the “increase… in 2024” of glyphosate levels in untreated water points directly to the issue of chemical pollution affecting water sources.

3. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The water company’s “robust sampling regime” and immediate actions taken in response to breaches, such as the “precautionary removal of the tank from supply for investigations,” are measures aimed at preventing public illness from contaminated water. The low number of breaches (“only three breaches out of more than 6,000 tests”) demonstrates efforts to minimize health risks associated with water quality.

4. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…

   The article’s focus on providing safe water through a well-maintained infrastructure directly relates to the provision of basic services for the community. The statement that “investing in infrastructure and preparing for population growth on the island was vital” underscores the commitment to ensuring this essential service remains available and safe for the entire population.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 6.1: The article provides a direct quantitative measure related to Indicator 6.1.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services). The statement that the company achieved “99.95% compliance with UK drinking water standards” serves as a clear indicator of the quality and safety of the water provided.
• Indicator for Target 6.3: Progress towards this target can be measured by monitoring the quality of water bodies, as per Indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality). The article implies a negative indicator by stating that the “Vale Pond catchment could still not be collected due to pesticide contamination.” Additionally, the reported “increase… in 2024” of glyphosate levels in untreated water serves as a specific chemical indicator of pollution.
• Indicator for Target 3.9: While the article does not mention illness or death rates (related to Indicator 3.9.2), it provides a proxy indicator for risk management. The statistic of “only three breaches out of more than 6,000 tests” acts as an indicator of the effectiveness of the water quality management system in preventing exposure to hazardous water. A lower breach rate implies a lower risk of illness.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: bbc.com