A hot summer and parched autumn have left Jersey’s water supply struggling, with levels dropping by 5% in the last two weeks – the equivalent of 117 million litres.

In an appeal to Islanders to save water, Jersey Water explained that total water storage is currently at just 57% and falling quickly.

As a result, Jersey Water restarted the desalination plant – which turns seawater into drinking water – near Corbière over summer. The plant has already run for two months, from the end of July to the end of September and helped boost water supplies by more than 200 million litres.

“We rely on the autumn and winter months to replenish our stocks”

Mark Bowden, Head of Water Resilience and Emergency Planning, said: “We rely on the autumn and winter months to replenish our stocks. After such a dry spring and summer, if we don’t get sufficient rain before the end of the year, it could put us in a really difficult position going into 2026. While we’ve had some rain, there is still a long way to go before the reservoirs recover.

“Over the summer, we asked customers to make small changes to how they use water. Those changes meant that our resources have lasted longer and we haven’t needed to introduce any restrictions.

“We really want that to continue, and we thank everyone for their actions, as those small changes have made a big difference. Once again, we are asking people to reduce their usage as much possible to help preserve our Island’s supply.”

Reducing use “most effective way” to make supplies last

“While the longer-term seasonal forecasts suggest rainfall may return to more average levels in the coming months, reducing everyday water use is the most effective way to make sure supplies last longer and avoid restrictions,” he added.

To help further raise awareness, Jersey Water is asking Islanders to support Water Night tomorrow evening (Thursday 23 October).

The annual initiative, which is run by UK water efficiency experts Waterwise, asks households and businesses to join a symbolic ‘water pause’ by turning off taps between 5pm and 10pm.

Fort Regent, Mont Orgueil Castle and St Helier Town Hall will be lit up in blue to mark the occasion along with other iconic buildings across the British Isles to mark to show national support for the campaign.

Simple things YOU can do to help… and how much water you’ll save:

  • Turn off the tap while brushing teeth – it saves up to 6 litres every minute.
  • Keep showers short – cutting from 7 minutes to 4, saves around 24 litres.
  • Run full loads – dishwashers and washing machines use the same amount of water regardless of how full they are.
  • Fix leaks fast – a dripping tap can waste over 200 litres a day.
  • Keep a jug of cool water in the fridge instead of running the tap for cold drinks.
  • Hold off on the car wash or use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose.
  • Islanders can also use the free GetWaterFit app, available on Jersey Water’s website, to understand where they use the most water at home and receive personalised tips to cut back.