Jersey Water bills to rise by more than £30 a year

Households in Jersey are set to see their annual water bills increase by more than £30 from the start of next year, as Jersey Water prepares to invest £26m in upgrading its desalination plant.

The company said customers would pay an additional 8p a day from 1 January, equivalent to around £2.55 a month. For an average household, that would mean an increase of more than £30 over a full year.

The planned desalination plant upgrade is intended to increase its output by as much as 50%, helping Jersey maintain water supplies during extended periods of low rainfall and drought.

Jersey Water chief executive Helier Smith said the company had sought to limit the impact on customers but argued that higher charges were needed to support investment in the island's long-term water security.

"We have a responsibility to plan ahead," Smith said.

He described the desalination project as the biggest investment in Jersey's water infrastructure for a generation, saying it would play an important role in maintaining supplies during drought conditions.

The company previously warned, as part of its 2030 strategy, that increases in water charges would be needed to fund investment aimed at securing the island's future water supply.

Jersey Water said the changes were part of a longer-term programme to strengthen the island's water infrastructure and improve its ability to cope with periods of prolonged dry weather.