Alderney man claiming damages over alleged PFOS exposure

A man from Alderney is concerned his health could have been affected by a dangerous chemical polluting his water supply.

Carl Flewitt is claiming damages and wants information from the States of Guernsey on how much exposure he has received to Perfluorooctane sulfate which is also known as PFOS.

The chemical was used in firefighting foam in Guernsey and Alderney until 2000 and is linked to cancer and organ failure. Tests carried out at both airports in 2008 found that the foam's use had resulted in groundwater contamination.

Carl has lived in his Telegraph Tower home near Alderney airport for 25 years, although he is now set to move out. The building has no connection to mains water so he created a borehole.

In 2010 he received a letter from the States telling him to stop using this water supply after tests showed it was dangerous.

He alleges damage done before then was partly responsible for his testicular and skin cancer.

The States of Alderney says that the responsibility for ensuring that the water from the borehole was safe lay with Mr Flewitt, adding that it had acted fairly and lawfully.