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