Select a region
Sark could be using more water than it's retaining by the end of the century, pushing the island into drought conditions more frequently, experts have warned.
A recent research project has offered a number of recommendations for how the island can prevent that happening in light of its plans for increasing the population.
The report – titled 'A water resources study for Sark' – was compiled by Dr Derek Clarke, a Lecturer in Water Resources within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton.
He warned that the study offers an "extremely pessimistic view".
Pictured: The research team examined boreholes and wells during their visit to Sark.
The report's findings are a little worrisome for residents of Sark, with a potential tipping point for water resources coming at the end of this century.
The researchers say that by 2100, the island could be using more water than it’s retaining, with potential drought conditions worsening, and less rainfall predicted under these conditions.
Currently Sark enters a natural drought every five years, with the water levels drying out in summer and brimming again in winter – but that could drop down to every three years, the report warns.
That is with the maximum possible population increase proposed, pushing the island up to 700 permanent residents in total, and with worst case conditions for rainfall and climate change.
Pictured: A graph from the report highlighting how under certain expected conditions, Sark might fail to refill its water reserves.
Dr Clarke and his team spent time studying the island's groundwater reserves, drought patterns and rainfall stats.
They spent three days on the island and four days piling through the data that was collected. In doing so they came up with some recommendations in order to keep the water flowing for Sark.
These include introducing several key changes to how housing can be built and developed – such as introducing a ‘Water Development Fee’, requiring water saving technologies in all new builds and renovations, and reintroducing a system to measure groundwater levels in wells.
The researchers would also like to see more work being done into finding out how the island tackled a drought back in 1976.
The full report can be found on the agenda for the Michaelmas Meeting of Chief Pleas.
Contamination and infrastructure concerns with Sark's water system
FOCUS: The £100m dream for Sark
Hundreds lay out the positives, negatives, and opportunities in Sark
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.