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The Chief Executive of Jersey Water has reassured islanders that Grand Vaux reservoir remains "perfectly safe" as it continues to be put under pressure by the torrential downpours of the past 24 hours.
20 flood-hit homes were evacuated today, and Government officials said this evening that they were preparing to empty 30 more homes, as water was now spilling over the top of the Grands Vaux reservoir and spreading even further.
They said that up to 25mm more rainfall is expected this evening and overnight - in addition to the half-a-month's-worth of rainfall experienced already.
At a press conference this evening, which you can watch in full below, Jersey Water CEO Helier Smith was questioned about the structural integrity of the Grands Vaux Reservoir, which was first constructed in 1953, given the volume of water built up and the subsequent pressure on the dam.
Responding, he maintained that it was "designed to withstand magnitudes of worse weather than we've experienced over the past two days".
Video: Water gushing from the reservoir at Grands Vaux this morning. (Hannah Fitzgerald)
"There should be no worry about the safety of the reservoir or the dam itself," he explained.
"It is regularly inspected, so I have no qualms about being categorical about that."
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The Chief Minister, the Chief Fire Officer, and the Chief Executive Officer at Jersey Water will update the Island on what efforts have been made so far. https://t.co/rBJNxzRYno
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) January 17, 2023
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