Guernsey Water is warning Islanders that water resources remain low, with levels having dropped further to 69% by the end of October, the lowest so far this year.
Despite the welcome return of rain in September, which was the wettest month of the year so far, rainfall was 20% below the average for October.
Steve Langlois (pictured), managing director at Guernsey Water said: “Water conservation is easy to put at the back of your mind as lawns and fields have once again turned green, and we spend more time indoors now the seasons have changed. But we must remember that the last 12 months have been exceptionally dry, with 32% less rainfall than we would normally expect over this period.”
The utility confirmed that levels have increased slightly following the rain at the beginning of November, but they are still below the ten-year average for this time of year.
Mr Langlois continued: “Normally levels would start to increase in October, which is the start of our winter recharge period, but this year levels actually dropped slightly in October. We need a period of persistent rain for soil moisture to recover and streams to start flowing continuously. This is why we are still asking islanders to use water wisely.
“This can be as simple as not leaving a tap running whilst brushing your teeth, or reducing time spent in the shower. It may help to consider that every drop of water used this winter slows down the recovery of our Island’s water resources.”
Although Guernsey’s water resources ensured the Island did not require any water use restrictions during the summer, Guernsey Water has confirmed that restrictions may be required if the weather continues to be drier than normal through the winter. Islanders can all play their part in helping to avoid this by using less water.
Water saving tips can be found here.
