Desalination plant is now boosting water reserves at £5,000 per day

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 11:25

Jersey Water has started using the desalination plant - turning seawater into freshwater - to boost the Island’s water reserves.

Following one of the driest springs on record, reservoir levels are down by approximately 140 million litres, - roughly one entire week’s supply for the whole island.

We currently have enough water for 93 days, based on current customer demand - if we have no more rain.

To help with reserves, the desalination plant has produced 30 million litres of fresh water from seawater in the past week.

Whilst it helps with supply, it costs upwards of £5,000 per day to run and a megawatt of electricity.

Earlier this month, the plant was prepared, ready to help with reserves.

DREAD: Desalination plant due to start up to prepare for water shortage

Mark Bowden, Head of Water Resilience and Emergency Planning, says Jersey water is not ruling out the need for temporary use bans if conditions worsen:

“The recent rainfall has been very welcome, but we remain cautious and will continue to monitor conditions closely over the next month or so.

Four water companies in the UK have already imposed hosepipe restrictions this summer and, although the situation isn’t currently as severe in Jersey, it remains unpredictable."

Jersey Water is urging Islanders to still make concerted efforts to save water.