Island’s reservoirs almost full

Monday 06 January 2014

Heavy rain and careful management of the public water supply has put Jersey Water in good position for 2014.

This winter’s heavy rainfall is good news for Jersey Water as the Island’s reservoirs are approaching full capacity weeks before the cut-off point to secure the year’s supply.

Last year’s long, hot and dry summer took its toll on the Island’s public water supply stocks and reservoir levels dropped significantly. To ensure the company is in a good position to maintain the Island’s supply, reservoirs need to be full by 1 April - so the wet autumn and winter is just what was needed to enable stocks to be replenished. In between, the company has pumped water from Grand Vaux, which has the smallest capacity but the largest catchment area, to the bigger reservoirs at Queen’s Valley and Val de la Mare.

The utility company’s Managing Director Howard Snowden said with capacity at 97% following the rainfall in November and December – and with the wet start to 2014 – they were already in a good position for the coming year.  With the streams that feed the reservoirs running full, Jersey Water is no longer having to pump supplies between them. “There is plenty of water in the ground so we can now be selective,” he said.