Jersey’s desalination plant is being fired up to pump an extra 5.5 million litres of water into the Island’s supplies every day, just days after a wildfire came dangerously close to knocking the drought lifeline out of action.
The seawater-to-drinking-water transformation facility will begin feeding water into Val de la Mare reservoir today after months of record-breaking heat and low rainfall left Jersey’s reservoirs just 64% full – well below the 75% 10-year average for this time of year.
And while Jersey Water says there is enough water to meet current demand, it has warned that the Island now needs significant rainfall this autumn and winter to replenish its reserves – or could face a much more difficult summer in 2027.
From “very close call” to 5.5m litres a day
As Express reported yesterday, Jersey Water described the incident as a “very close call”, warning that damage to the facility could have removed a critical part of the Island’s drought resilience at precisely the time it was needed most.
The fire was brought under control without damaging the plant, and from today it will be put to work.
For now, Jersey Water says the desalination facility will operate at half capacity, producing 5.5 million litres a day, which is equivalent to around a quarter of Jersey’s average daily water supply.
It will continue running until Jersey Water is satisfied reservoir levels have returned to healthier levels, with production able to be increased if conditions deteriorate.
The utility company says that it costs around £5,000-a-day to run, but that no “immediate” change to customer bills should be expected. However, when the plant has been used before, the company has previously warned that consumers may have to pick up the tab.
A safety net… but not the answer
The desalination plant was brought into action for the first time in a decade in 2022 in response to a long dry spell which saw reservoir capacity fall to 68% and also brought a a domestic hosepipe ban with it.
It was also turned on last year between July and September and again between
October and December, when reservoir levels were down to approximately 140 million litres, which equates to roughly one entire week’s supply for the whole island, following one of the driest springs on record and a dry start to summer.
Mark Manton, Chief Water Operations Officer, said: “The recent fire near the desalination plant served as a good reminder of just how important this facility is for Jersey’s water resilience. The plant is a safety net during prolonged dry periods and drought like we’ve experienced this summer, but we can’t only rely on it for our water supply. That’s why it’s really important that Islanders reduce how they use water and consciously make water saving part of their everyday lives.”
Could Jersey face restrictions?
There are currently no restrictions on water use, but Jersey Water is continuing to ask Islanders to cut consumption where possible.
ADVICE…
Islanders are being encouraged to follow simple water-saving tips to reduce their use this summer and save money, such as:
- Cutting showers from seven to four minutes saves around 24 litres.
- Using watering cans instead of garden hosepipes and sprinklers, which use around 1,000 litres of water per hour, compared to 200 litres with a can.
- Skipping the rinse before using the dishwasher to save around five to 10 litres of water per wash.
- Avoiding washing cars, which typically takes between 200 and 600 litres of water.
- Turning off the tap while brushing teeth to save six litres of water per minute, or as much as 24 litres per day.
- Doing full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine – half loads use around three quarters of the water and energy of a full machine.
- Call a plumber to fix leaks – a dripping tap wastes up to 200 litres of water per day and a leaky loo up to 400 litres.
The company says doing so will reduce pressure on the Island’s limited supplies and its reliance on desalination.
The plant will remain operational until reservoir levels recover – meaning much now depends on what happens after an exceptionally dry summer.
Jersey Water is urging Islanders to water gardens less frequently, take shorter showers and fix leaking taps.
What about the longer term?
While the desalination plant can provide a sizeable emergency boost in the short-term, Jersey Water is forecasting a potential 8.6-million-litre-a-day shortfall in the coming decade, as Mr Manton explained.
“The plant has served Jersey very well, but much of it is more than 40 years old and only meets around half of the Island’s current daily water needs,” he said.
“With forecast daily water shortages of 8.6 million litres by 2035 during severe droughts, this is why Jersey Water is investing £26 million on an essential upgrade, to increase the plant’s output by 50%, from 10.8 million litres to 16.2 million litres a day.”
Jersey Water has also previously stated that Islanders may well have to have to get used to drinking water recycled from toilets, sinks and washing machines if we are going to avoid flooding a reservoir or extending an existing one.
LISTEN…
Express previously sat down with Jersey Water CEO Helier Smith for an in-depth Bailiwick Podcasts episode, in which he set out the challenges facing Jersey’s supplies over the coming years…
