The next five years will be pivotal in determining the future of water supply for Jersey. We have a responsibility to keep the Island’s tap water safe and reliable. Our strategy and this plan focus on doing just that.
Everything we do already aims to be right by our customers and right by Jersey; it’s important that you know that you are at the centre of our strategy and that you trust us to deliver for you.
This strategy is our plan for protecting our water, now and always, and continuing to deliver great service, so you can have even greater confidence in your drinking water.
Why this strategy matters
Our research forecasts that, within the next ten years, Jersey could face water shortages of as much as 8.6 million litres a day during a severe drought. That’s nearly a third of our average daily supply over the summer months. Climate change, limited water storage and changes in population are all contributing factors and, without action now, we may not have enough water to supply the Island in the future.
At the same time, global focus and understanding about PFAS (poly and perfluoroalkyl) chemicals has accelerated. As scientists and health professionals investigate the health effects of these man-made chemicals, governments around the world are introducing new stricter water safety standards, as a first step in tackling this environmental pollution. Currently, the water we supply in Jersey is well within the existing water quality safety limits set by the EU and UK, in fact on average, nearly 70% lower, but we know that the Government of Jersey is considering new, stricter precautionary regulations, which we welcome and are preparing for.
These two critical issues are key priorities for us over the next five-years and beyond. Our strategy to 2030 will see us tackling both challenges head-on.
A word from our CEO
Our CEO, Helier Smith, shares what's ahead as we deliver our 2030 strategy. In this short clip, he explains our key priorities, some of the projects we are aiming to deliver over the next five years, the £48 million investment we are making to protect our Island's water supply and how it will benefit you, as a customer.
What we are doing
Over the next five years, we are planning to invest £48 million in essential upgrades to our infrastructure and operations.
We will be focusing on three key priorities to secure and protect our Island’s water supply, today and every day.
On this page, you will find more detail on the significant investment that we are making and the benefits for you, our customers.
Enough water for the Island, always
We're planning ahead to protect your water supply during dry periods and drought, so that you can count on having water when you need it.
Smarter, resilient, future-ready operations
We're investing in our infrastructure to make a difference to the critical public service we deliver. We know how important it is to have safe water you can trust.
Keeping water safe
We’re taking important steps to make sure your drinking water stays clean, safe and fully compliant with future water quality standards that the Government of Jersey sets for the Island.
Watch: Questions answered about our 2030 strategy
In this recording, we discuss what we’re doing to tackle the Island’s biggest water challenges, including drought, water quality and PFAS, and the £48 million investment we’re making to protect your supply and improve our services.
What this means for you
We asked what you need and expect from us as your water utility. We have listened and this strategy is built on your feedback and aims to deliver essential upgrades and service improvements for you.
On this page, you will find more information about how we are investing the £48 million and what it means for your water bills.
A more reliable and resilient water supply even during drought, with less likelihood of water restrictions
Clean, safe, trusted water that continues to meet recognised regulations with quality you can rely on
Fewer leaks, bursts and supply interruptions and all round better service, every time you turn on your tap
What this means for your bills
We believe this strategy is right for today and right for tomorrow to address the challenges that we are facing to keep supplying safe, clean water that you can rely on.
We know that rising costs are a concern for many of our customers.
That’s why we’re working hard to strike the right balance between making these essential investments to protect Jersey’s water supply and keeping your bills as fair and manageable as we can.
The £48 million we are investing over the five years to 2030 will deliver essential projects across our operations to help us achieve our three priorities:
- Enough water for the Island, always – £37.7m
- Keeping water safe – £6.6m
- Smarter, resilient, future-ready operations – £3.7m
Nearly £2 million has been allocated for the first two years of our strategy to cover interim treatment for PFAS and trialling of long-term treatment solutions.
More about our strategy
Below are some of the key upgrades and improvements that we are aiming to deliver over the next five years to 2030 and beyond, so that we can make sure there’s enough water for the Island, always, we’re keeping water safe, and we have smarter, resilient, future ready operations that provide the best possible service for you.
Enough water for the Island, always
We know that Jersey’s water supply faces uncertainty from changes in climate and population. With currently only 120 days’ worth of water storage capacity, our Island is extremely vulnerable to drought, compared to many other places. The Island’s daily demand is on average between 18 and 23 million litres per day.
A major part of our job is to plan carefully so that we can meet the Island’s future water needs, while at the same time balancing what is affordable and practical today for you, our customers.
We’re exploring the best solutions now, so we avoid costly investments later and, most importantly, make every effort to never run out of water. We plan to do this by:
- expanding our desalination plant to give greater protection against drought and to boost supplies when needed
- detecting and fixing leaks faster with new monitoring technology, to reduce the risk of supply interruptions to your home or business
- upgrading priority sections of our mains network, to give you a more reliable service
- rolling out smart meter technology gradually across the Island so in the future you will be able to track your water use, spot leaks early and manage your bills
- planning future water solutions by exploring options like a new reservoir, water recycling and more desalination, to make sure future generations have enough water.
Keeping water safe
One of primary focuses over the next five years and beyond will be PFAS and the work we need to do to ensure that the water we supply continues to fall within water quality regulatory limits.
The water we currently supply is safe and, as the Independent Scientific Panel has confirmed, there is no cause for concern. The recommendations the Panel has made for new water quality limits are precautionary and part of a broader effort to improve long-term water quality for our Island.
While Jersey’s mains supply meets current UK and EU standards, we support more stringent water quality limits for the Island. That said, there is currently significant uncertainty around the exact requirements, timelines and costs associated with meeting any new proposed regulations.
In the meantime, we are already actively developing a comprehensive PFAS treatment strategy for the best long-term “no regrets” option for Jersey and investigating interim solutions to reduce the trace levels of PFAS that are currently detected in the mains water supply. We are already at the concept stage and will be carrying out further feasibility studies and pilot trials. Our intention is to have a fully developed and actionable plan ready to go once the new regulations are confirmed and the necessary funding is in place.
Following the announcement that PFAS treatment will be supported through the Investing in Jersey Fund, we are working closely with the Government of Jersey to explore how this funding can be applied.
Our strategy therefore sees us:
- preparing for new water quality standards and PFAS treatment so your drinking water continues to meet new regulations
- addressing PFAS pollution with interim treatment measures and carrying out feasibility studies and pilot trials to find the best long-term treatment solution so your water stays within safe limits
- reducing other pollution risks to our water supply by working with the Government of Jersey and local industries to better protect the areas around our reservoirs so your water stays clean from source to tap
- addressing the remaining lead pipework on our network to help ensure your water stays safe and good quality, while supporting the Government of Jersey’s wider efforts to raise awareness with property owners to replace any lead pipes on their own private supply
- managing risks at every stage of our water supply process by updating our Drinking Water Safety Plan so you can trust the quality of your water every day.
Investing in Jersey Fund
Smarter, resilient, future-ready operations
This part of our strategy is all about improving the way we run our day-to-day operations. Much of this will be behind-the-scenes changes that might be visible to you, as a customer, but will be vital in making sure you to continue to receive the safe, reliable water and high level of service that you expect, now and in the future. The next five years will see us:
- upgrading and maintaining parts of our operational infrastructure that need the most attention, so you have a reliable supply and fewer service interruptions
- prioritising customer service so we get it right for you first time
- redesigning our bills so they are easier to understand and you know exactly what you’re paying for
- improving your online experience so you can access our services, find information and self-serve whenever you need to
- strengthening our security and technology to protect your data, our data and Jersey’s critical national infrastructure
- driving forward our sustainability journey and reducing our impact, to protect our environment
- innovating so our operations are more data-driven to help us serve you even more efficiently
- investing in our people so we have a skilled, motivated team that’s focused on delivering excellent service for you, every day.
What we are aiming for
We have three clear goals that we always aim for:
- Trusted water – Delivering safe clean water that you can rely on.
- Happy customers – Providing great service and listening to your needs.
- Healthy environment – Protecting Jersey’s natural resources and supporting Island life.
The only way we will achieve our goals is if we have the right foundations in place. These are:
- Our people – Skilled, motivated, trusted teams that deliver for you and Jersey
- Our performance – Strong financial management, clear and effective governance and robust operations that give you reliable results and service
- Our progress – Innovation, data and technology that drive service improvements for you
- Our partnerships – Relationships with the Government, local organisations, investors, customers and the wider community that drive positive benefits for you and our Island.
