Islanders Urged to Cut Shower Time as Water Reserves Continue to Decline

Thames Water has set itself a one-month deadline to reach an agreement with Ofwat, the UK water regulator, over its penalties for missing performance targets. If no resolution is reached by October 22, the company intends to escalate the dispute to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The utility, which supplies millions of households, is facing significant financial challenges, with about £1.5 billion in emergency loans due for repayment before the end of the year. It has already deferred part of a £127 million fine linked to pollution incidents and dividend payments.

Thames argues that the current penalty framework is overly punitive and unrealistic, given its operational and financial constraints. Ofwat’s regime ties fines and penalties to performance targets in areas such as leak reduction, pollution control, and service quality. Thames insists these targets are too strict and hinder its ability to stabilize its finances.

The company is pressing for concessions or a “regulatory reset” that would allow more flexibility in meeting requirements. This would also make any potential restructuring or takeover by creditors more feasible.

Earlier this year, Thames and Ofwat agreed to defer a formal referral to the CMA, initially by 18 weeks, later extending the deferral until October 22, 2025. This gave both sides time to continue negotiations over the company’s financial and regulatory future.

In parallel, Thames has worked out a payment plan with Ofwat for its penalties. It will pay 20% of the fines—around £24.5 million—by September 30, 2025, with the balance deferred until either a restructuring is completed, the company enters or exits special administration, or by March 31, 2030, whichever comes first. Thames has pledged that these payments will not be passed on to customers through higher bills.

If no deal is reached by the October deadline, Thames will formally refer Ofwat to the CMA, potentially prolonging uncertainty over the company’s financial stability and regulatory framework into next year.Island residents are being urged to reduce water usage immediately as reservoir levels drop sharply due to prolonged dry weather, forcing the restart of a desalination plant to safeguard supplies.

According to Jersey Water, the island’s total water storage has fallen to 57% of capacity, marking a 5% decrease in just two weeks — equivalent to roughly 117 million litres of water lost.

Rainfall levels have been 30% lower than last year and 20% below the five-year average, placing increased strain on the island’s six main reservoirs.

Desalination Plant Restarted to Maintain Supply

To offset dwindling reserves, Jersey Water has reactivated its desalination plant, which converts seawater into drinking water. The company has also encouraged residents to make small lifestyle adjustments, such as shorter showers and fixing leaks quickly, to help avoid mandatory water restrictions.

Mark Bowden, Head of Water Resilience and Emergency Planning, acknowledged that earlier public cooperation has already made a difference.

“Thanks to everyone who responded to our earlier appeals, we haven’t needed to enforce restrictions so far,” he said. “We’re asking for that continued effort — small actions really do add up.”

Water-Saving Recommendations from Jersey Water

To help reduce unnecessary water waste, Jersey Water recommends the following practical steps for residents:

• Turn off taps while brushing teeth — saves up to six litres per minute

• Shorten showers — reducing from seven to four minutes can save around 24 litres

• Fix leaks promptly — a single dripping tap can waste over 200 litres per day

• Run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers to maximize efficiency

• Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of running the tap for cold water

These small measures, the utility says, can collectively help delay or prevent formal water restrictions.

Water Night Encourages Collective Action

To further raise awareness, islanders were invited to participate in “Water Night” on Thursday — a symbolic event encouraging residents to turn off taps between 17:00 and 22:00 BST.

Prominent landmarks, including Fort Regent and Mont Orgueil Castle, were illuminated in blue light to mark the initiative and promote responsible water use.

Background on Jersey’s Water Capacity

Jersey Water operates six key reservoirs, capable of holding approximately 2.7 billion litres of untreated water — enough to meet the island’s demand for about 120 days under normal conditions.

However, with continued low rainfall and rising consumption, the company warns that sustained conservation efforts are essential to maintain stability through the coming months.

“Every drop counts,” Bowden reiterated. “Our community has shown great commitment, but we must continue these habits if we want to avoid restrictions later in the year.”