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Desalination plant due to start up to prepare for water shortage

The last time the plant was used was in 2022.

Jersey's desalination plant is getting ready to start up, to help with water supply following the warmest June on record.

Jersey Water has begun getting ready to run the desalination plant, which converts seawater into fresh water.

It is expecting to need to use the emergency supply, following a dry June that was the warmest on record, and the third driest spring.

Current water stocks are 'well below' the 10-year average, which Mark Bowden, Head of Resilience and Emergency Planning at Jersey Water, says is a good benchmark for where we should be at this time of the year.

Reservoir levels are lower at the moment than they were in 2022, which is when the desalination plant was last used, and a hosepipe ban was introduced in the August. 

With 2,163 million litres in storage, Mark says that we have between 80 - 90 days left of supply, but as it gets warmer, people use more water.

"The outlook is dry.

"If we are going to bring in restrictions, then it will be in August."

He says, whilst there are no official bans yet, they are posting on social media how to cut down water usage:

"If and when we do put them in place, it would be on things like hosepipes for filling pools or ponds, or washing cars.

"We recommend people use tips and tricks to reduce their water usage.

"For four-minute showers, there are good playlists knocking around with four-minute songs, my favourite would be Living on A Prayer by Bon Jovi."

More from Jersey News from Channel 103