Jersey Water unveils essential strategy to safeguard current and future water supply

Today, we have published our strategy for the next five years, in which we set out our plans to address future water shortages and protect the Island’s water supply.

Our latest research forecasts that, within the next ten years, Jersey could face a potential water deficit of 8.6 million litres a day during severe drought, which is almost half the Island’s current daily supply. Climate change, limited water storage and forecast changes in population are all contributing factors that, without action now, could lead to Islanders experiencing water restrictions and emergency measures during dry periods.

To tackle future water shortages, we are investing in a series of essential infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. These include increasing the capacity of our existing desalination plant by 50% to provide a more robust drought contingency; further reducing leakage with advanced detection and monitoring technologies; and renewing sections of the mains network. We will also be exploring other potential solutions for the future, including water recycling, a new reservoir or expanding an existing one and making the desalination plant even bigger.

These critical investments, totalling in the region of £48 million over five years, will ensure greater reliability and resilience for our customers’ water supplies, with less likelihood of water restrictions, fewer leaks, bursts and supply interruptions, and even better water quality.

As well as these infrastructure improvements, we are also preparing to adapt and future-proof our operations to respond to new precautionary water quality regulations, with particular focus on PFAS. Pending a definitive change in regulation from the Government of Jersey, we are developing a PFAS treatment plan, which will likely require major changes to existing water treatment processes and potentially an entirely new treatment facility. We have allocated nearly £2 million over the next two years for interim treatment and pilot trials for long-term treatment solutions. Costs for treatment are expected to be significant and we will work with the Government of Jersey to formalise funding arrangements through the Investing in Jersey Fund.

To support these necessary upgrades to the Island’s water infrastructure, customers’ water bills will be increasing from 1 January 2026. Average households can expect to pay approximately £59 more next year for their water, with further above- average increases anticipated from 2027.

While we arc clear that these investments are crucial to safeguard our Island’s water supplies, we equally recognise the financial pressures that many customers are continuing to face and we are committed to providing support to those who need it.

Outlining the strategy, Helier Smith, our Chief Executive Officer commented:

“We are at a pivotal point for Jersey Water and the Island’s water. The important decisions and investments we make now will shape the future of the Island’s water supply for all of us and for decades to come, as we respond to very real challenges, including the impact of climate change on our weather patterns, changing demographics, water quality challenges and finite water resources. We have seen all too well this summer, the fourth warmest on record for Jersey, how vulnerable the Island is to drought. We have listened to what our customers need and expect from us and our priority, as it has always been, is to supply them with water they can trust and rely upon, today and every day.

We know that any bill increase will be difficult for some customers, especially in the current climate, but these are strategic investments to ensure we can continue to provide our critical public service, and we will provide support for customers experiencing financial hardship.”

We have published our plans so that customers and the wider community can learn how these investments will benefit households, businesses and the environment in the years to come.

Both our 2030 strategy and our Water Resources and Drought Management Plan are available on our website, along with details of next year’s pricing, which comes into effect on 1 January 2026.