Jersey Water Demand Hits 2022 Drought High
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- Jersey Water reported islanders used 159 million litres (35 million gallons) of water last week — nearly 5% of stored reserves — during a heatwave that peaked at 39.2C (103F) on Thursday 25 June, the highest demand since the 2022 drought.
- Reservoirs at Queen's Valley and Val de la Mare are currently at 89% capacity, a level Jersey Water calls a "good position" but warns "could drop fast with another heatwave on the horizon."
- Jersey Water described supplies as "finite," noting the island has only 120 days of water when reservoirs are full, and urged customers "to use water wisely and avoid waste."
- The La Rosière desalination plant in Corbiere is on standby and ready to boost supplies if reservoir levels fall further, the company said.
- Conservation tips from Jersey Water include reusing water from washing fruit and vegetables to water garden plants and turning off the tap while cleaning teeth.
- Jersey Water said cutting consumption now would "make the quickest difference and help avoid restrictions later in the summer/autumn," framing the appeal as preventative rather than reactive.
Why it matters: Jersey sits 120 days from empty if reservoirs are full — and last week's drawdown consumed nearly 5% of stored supply in seven days. That math means a repeat heatwave could compress that buffer sharply, forcing Jersey Water to activate its La Rosière desalination plant or impose usage restrictions before autumn.
