Jersey Water has set out its plans to address future water shortages and protect the Island’s water supply, in a five-year strategy, published today.
The utility’s latest research forecasts that, within the next ten years, Jersey could face a potential water deficit of 8.6 million litres a day during severe drought, which is almost half the Island’s average daily supply. Climate change, limited water storage and forecast changes in population are all contributing factors that, without action now, could lead to Islanders experiencing water restrictions and emergency measures during dry periods.
To tackle future water shortages, Jersey Water is investing in a series of essential infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. These include increasing the capacity of the existing desalination plant by 50% to provide a more robust drought contingency; further reducing leakage with advanced detection and monitoring technologies; and renewing sections of the mains network. The company will also be exploring other potential solutions for the future, including water recycling, a new reservoir or expanding an existing one and making the desalination plant even bigger.
These critical investments, totalling in the region of £48 million over five years, will ensure greater reliability and resilience for customers’ water supplies, with less likelihood of water restrictions, fewer leaks, bursts and supply interruptions, and even better water quality.
As well as these infrastructure improvements, Jersey Water is also preparing to adapt and future-proof its operations to respond to new precautionary water quality regulations, with particular focus on PFAS. Pending a definitive change in regulation, the utility is developing a PFAS treatment plan, which will likely require major changes to existing water treatment processes and potentially an entirely new treatment facility. Nearly £2 million has been allocated over the next two years for interim treatment and pilot trials for long-term treatment solutions. Costs for treatment are expected to be significant and Jersey Water will work with the Government of Jersey to formalise funding arrangements through the Investing in Jersey Fund.
To support these necessary upgrades to the Island’s water infrastructure, customers’ water bills will be increasing from 1 January 2026. Average households can expect to pay approximately £59, or 16p per day, more next year for their water, with further above-average increases anticipated from 2027.
While Jersey Water is clear that these investments are crucial to safeguard the Island’s water supplies, the company equally recognises the financial pressures that many customers are continuing to face and is committed to providing support to those who need it.
Outlining the strategy, Helier Smith (pictured), Jersey Water’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are at a pivotal point for Jersey Water and the Island’s water supply. The important decisions and investments we make now will shape the future of water supply for all of us and for decades to come, as we respond to very real challenges, including the impact of climate change on our weather patterns, changing demographics, water quality challenges and finite water resources. We have seen all too well this summer, the fourth warmest on record for Jersey, just how vulnerable the Island is to drought. We have listened to what our customers need and expect from us and our priority, as it has always been, is to keep supplying them with water they can trust and rely upon, today and every day.
“We know that any bill increase will be difficult for some customers, especially in the current climate, but these are strategic investments to ensure we can continue to provide our critical public service, and we will provide support for customers experiencing financial hardship.”
