Jersey Water is once again asking Islanders to make small but vital changes to their daily routines to help protect the Island’s water supplies.
After one of the driest springs on record, followed by a long hot summer and below-average rainfall so far this autumn, reservoir storage levels are significantly lower than expected. At present, storage stands at just 57% and is continuing to fall. In the last two weeks alone, levels have dropped by 5%, the equivalent of 117 million litres of water.
To help safeguard supplies, Jersey Water has restarted the Island’s desalination plant. The facility, which converts seawater into drinking water, ran for two months this summer, producing more than 200 million litres of additional water. While an important back-up, the desalination plant is energy intensive and expensive to run, which is why reducing everyday water use remains the most effective way to make supplies last longer.
Mark Bowden, Head of Water Resilience and Emergency Planning, said:
“We rely on the autumn and winter months to replenish our stocks. After such a dry spring and summer, if we don’t get sufficient rain before the end of the year, it could put us in a really difficult position going into 2026. While we’ve had some rain, there is still a long way to go before the reservoirs recover. Over the summer, we asked customers to make small changes to how they use water. Those changes meant that our resources have lasted longer and we haven’t needed to introduce any restrictions. We really want that to continue, and we thank everyone for their actions, as those small changes have made a big difference. Once again, we are asking people to reduce their usage as much possible to help preserve our Island’s supply.”
Water saving advice
- Turn off the tap while brushing teeth – saves up to 6 litres a minute
- Take shorter showers – reducing from 7 to 4 minutes saves around 24 litres
- Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads
- Fix drips and leaks quickly – a dripping tap can waste more than 200 litres a day
- Keep a jug of cold water in the fridge instead of running the tap
- Wait before washing the car – or use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose.
Islanders can also use the free GetWaterFit app on Jersey Water’s website to understand where they use the most water at home and receive personalised tips to cut back.
“Protecting our water supplies is part of our shared responsibility to the environment,” added Mark Bowden. “It’s about ensuring we have the resources we need not just today, but for generations to come.”
