Fresh water ‘is among scarcest in the world’

Tuesday 27th July 2004, 12:00AM BST.

JERSEY’S fresh water supply is among the scarcest in the world according to Environment president Senator Philip Ozouf.

Senator Ozouf made the claim yesterday.

In response to issues raised when the panel first met last Monday, the Senator said Jersey came 11th, between Jordan and Yemen, in comparison to a table of water scarce countries.

‘I believe this clarifies the obvious case for water management legislation in Jersey,’ he said.

Jersey uses 444 cubic metres of water per person per annum, just one cubic metre above the Yemen but considerably better off than third placed Malta – with 85 cubic metres – to which comparisons have been made in the past.

The UK just made it into the table of water abundant countries – 28 places above the Island.

Iceland came top of the table.

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