From today, we’re bringing our desalination plant into operation after spending the past few weeks preparing it for use.
The decision to use the desalination plant follows record-breaking temperatures and very little rainfall this summer in Jersey, leaving the reservoirs at a low of around 64% full. Compared to the ten-year average of 75%, this is considerably low for the time of year and, although there remains enough water to meet current demand, the Island will need significant rainfall this autumn and winter to replenish stocks and avoid a more challenging summer in 2027.
The plant will contribute an extra 5.5 million litres of water a day into Val de la Mare reservoir. That’s equivalent to around a quarter of the Island’s average daily supply.
Despite the desalination plant being up and running, we’re continuing to ask Islanders to do their bit to help ease reliance on the plant and pressure on water supplies.
Mark Manton, our Chief Water Operations Officer says: “While the desalination plant is here as a safety net in extreme cases of drought, it’s important that Islanders continue to be mindful of their non-essential water use.
While the plant serves the Island well, most of it is more than 40 years old and can only meet around half of the Island’s daily water needs.
That’s why essential upgrades, which we have outlined in our five-year strategy, are so important. They would see the plant’s daily output by 50%, from 10.8 million litres to 16.2 million litres.
Subject to planning approval, we expect the work to take a minimum of two years.
While it continues to support the Island as an insurance policy in time of need, it’s crucial that Islanders continue to make water saving part of everyday life rather than relying on desalination.”
The desalination plant will continue to be used until the company is confident that the reservoir levels have returned to a healthy level.
