Jersey Water is preparing its desalination plant to be brought in to service as a precautionary measure due to very low Autumn rainfall and the long term forecast predicting drier than average weather through to the end of January 2019.

Current reservoir levels are 46% full; down 658 megalitres on the same period last year when reservoirs were 71% full. From May – October there was 227mm of rainfall, significantly less than the same period last year of 485mm. This will be the first time since December 2011 that the plant will have been used out of necessity.

The reverse osmosis desalination plant is remotely controlled from Handois Water Treatment Works and at full capacity can produce the equivalent of approximately half the present daily demand for water.

Helier Smith, Chief Executive said:

“At present there is no cause for concern however with little rain forecast for the foreseeable future, we need to ensure resources are able to recover over the winter to provide sufficient reserves for next spring / summer. The plant is being prepared for use and likely to go into production early December.”

“We are urging Islanders to use water wisely in order to help reduce waste and preserve water resources.”