Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT YOUR BILL
- What does the standing charge cover?
- I will be moving house soon; what do I need to do regarding my water supply?
ABOUT GUERNSEY WATER
ABOUT WATER TREATMENT
ABOUT WATER QUALITY
- Do Guernsey Water put fluoride in the water?
- Is our water hard or soft?
- My water tastes odd, or off – why is this?
- How do our water supply standards/quality compare to that of the UK?
ABOUT WATER METERS
- Why does my water cost so much when it falls freely from the sky?
- Is metering the fairest way to charge for water?
- How much does it cost to have a meter installed?
- Once I have applied for my meter, how long will it take to be fitted?
- I have a swimming pool – should I be on a meter?
ABOUT WATER SUPPLY
- Is demand for water increasing?
- What can be done to reduce the number of holes being dug in the roads?
- I think that somebody might be polluting a stream – what should I do?
ABOUT YOUR BILL
What does the standing charge cover?
The standing charge that you pay contributes towards Guernsey Water’s fixed costs incurred through:
- providing you with a connection to the water supply, and
- maintaining the production, delivery and quality of a drinkable water supply network.
I will be moving house soon; what do I need to do regarding my water supply?
We will need to organise a final bill for your old property, then you will need to fill in a Change of Occupier form with all of your new details; click here to download the form. You will also need to fill in a Water Supply Agreement form for your new property - please click here to download this.
ABOUT GUERNSEY WATER
Is Guernsey Water part of the States of Guernsey?
Guernsey Water are a business unit, or section, of the Public Services Department, which is one of the Departments that form the States of Guernsey.
However, Guernsey Water acts as a trading board, in that it creates its own income and controls its expenditure, and must balance its books as any other business would do.
The Public Services Department encourages its business units (Guernsey Water, Airports, Harbours, States Works etc.) to act in a commercial manner in the way that they raise revenue and manage their capital expenditure programmes.
How many reservoirs do Guernsey Water own?
Guernsey Water currently owns or oversees 18 reservoirs and water storage quarries. These are:
- Baubigny
- Capelles
- Carteret
- Grosse Hougue
- Hougue Ricart
- Irene and Robine
- Jamblin
- Juas
- L’Epine
- Longue Hougue
- Marais
- Rue Mainguy
- Salt Pans
- St Andrews
- St Saviours
- Vale Mill
- Ville Baudu
Three of these reservoirs have water treatment plants on site – these are St Saviours, Longue Hougue and Kings Mills (although the latter is only used to meet high summer demand, and has not been needed for the last few years).
ABOUT WATER TREATMENT
How is water treated?
There are two methods of water treatment that Guernsey Water use.
The first of these is the traditional method used at Kings Mills and Juas, where the water is pushed through a large ‘sieve’ to remove large objects (e.g. leaves). Clarification then occurs, where chemicals are added to the water causing small particles to stick together, creating a layer called 'floc' which floats and is removed. Water is then filtered through a layer of sand to cleanse it further, before it runs through a contact tank, which disinfects the water to ensure that it retains its high quality during its journey through the distribution system to customer taps.
The second method utilises state-of-the-art membrane tubes with ultra-small spaces - the water is able to pass through the membrane, but impurities are left on the outside of the tubes and removed as sludge. St Saviours WTW and Longue Hougue WTW both use this modern technology.
Why don't Guernsey Water treat and use seawater?
The treatment of seawater to make it drinkable is known as desalination (literally removing salt from water). However, desalination is a very expensive process, and is not very energy-efficient. Guernsey Water currently has a substantial amount of water storage (up to 11 months), so there is no real need to consider desalination at the moment.
Guernsey did actually have a desalination plant in the mid 1960’s at La Hure Mare, which was used to augment the island’s supply during the dry summers. The plant was reasonably successful and without it supply restrictions would have been likely in 1964 and 1965. However, the plant proved to be uneconomical to maintain and was decommissioned shortly after 1970.
ABOUT WATER QUALITY
Do Guernsey Water put fluoride in the water?
Guernsey Water do not add fluoride to the Island’s water supply, although trace amounts do occur naturally in water.
The issue of fluoridation has come up a number of times recently, and has been championed by some health professionals as a way of strengthening children’s teeth.
However, Guernsey Water would not consider fluoridation for the following reasons:
- It is a costly and time-consuming process
- It may have potential side-effects (too much fluoride can cause flourodosis, a black and white banding of the teeth)
- The fluoridation of Guernsey’s drinking water could be considered as a form of mass inoculation, and if it were to go ahead, it would set a precedent for further ‘additions’ to the water supply for health reasons
- If more fluoride is needed to strengthen children’s teeth, then fluoride toothpaste and/or supplements can be used.
Is our water hard or soft?
This depends on which part of the Island you live in, and which catchment area you are in. In summary, if you live in the south of the Island (St Saviours catchment), then the water is moderately soft to slightly hard. If you live in the north of the Island (Longue Hougue catchment), then the water is moderately hard. Click here to learn more about water hardness, and to see a map of the catchment areas.
My water tastes odd, or off – why is this?
Water that leaves our treatment works is of the highest possible quality, and Guernsey Water work to ensure that the water is not contaminated whilst either being transported through the distribution system, or being held in a service reservoir until it is required.
However, in certain conditions such as hot weather, the chemical make-up of the water can change, which may lead to a different odour, taste or appearance. These changes do not affect the safety of the water, and can usually be solved by flushing out the water system for your house.
Also, if your property is at the end of a long service main, and there are not many other properties feeding off the main, it is possible that the water may not be moved around as much, and could develop a different taste. However, the water is still perfectly safe to drink.
How do our water supply standards/quality compare to that of the UK?
Guernsey has a very strong water infrastructure, and substantial water storage capabilities. Compared to the UK, we have not had to consider desalination in the last 30 years or so (the treatment of seawater to make it drinkable), and long-term planning means that we will not have to consider it in the near future. This is positive, as desalination is an expensive and energy-inefficient process.
In terms of quality, Guernsey’s water compares very favourably to the UK, and indeed to the whole of Europe. The water quality figures from 2009 showed that of the 8,000 or so samples taken by Guernsey Water, 99.86% of them passed the strict quality criteria set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate in the UK.
One of the reasons for the excellent water quality is the use of state-of-the-art treatment methods such as the membranes used at St Saviours and Longue Hougue WTW's.
ABOUT WATER METERS
Why does my water cost so much when it falls freely from the sky?
The water that falls from the sky is not suitable to drink (it contains bacteria and large particles), so Guernsey Water must collect this precipitation and treat it, to make it safe for consumption. The costs of storing, treating and distributing the water to the thousands of homes in the island are considerable.
Is metering the fairest way to charge for water?
Guernsey Water believe that metering is the fairest way to charge for water usage, as you are paying for exactly what you use. Any system based on taxation rates such as RV or TRP will only make assumptions about water usage, whilst a meter will measure it precisely.
How much does it cost to have a meter installed?
Meter installation is free! You can apply to have a meter installed by printing off and completing this form.
Once I have applied for my meter, how long will it take to be fitted?
Guernsey Water aim to have your water meter installed within 7 – 10 working days, although if demand is high, this may take a little longer. Conversely, if we can fit the meter sooner than this, then we will do so.
I have a swimming pool – should I be on a meter?
Yes – if you have anything which uses a large volume of water, then you will need to be metered. This includes:
• Unattended garden hoses, automatic irrigation, and garden sprinklers (or similar)
• Swimming pools, spas or Jacuzzi’s
• Substantial building or construction works
• Any commercial use (e.g. offices, shops, hotels, self-catering accommodation, garages & agriculture/horticulture).
If in doubt, please contact us.
ABOUT WATER SUPPLY
Is demand for water increasing?
Demand for water does appear to be increasing at a small rate as new water-consuming technologies emerge, and customers' houses have an increased number of bathrooms. However, the States of Guernsey’s population strategy advises that Guernsey’s population will remain fairly static over the next few years, so the island is currently in a strong position as far as water storage is concerned.
Guernsey Water is constantly assessing increases in water demand, and has plans in place to utilise further quarries and storage areas for water. If the weather were to suddenly change drastically, and no more rain fell, we would still have nearly a year’s worth of water storage for the island.
Despite our strong position, we always advise people to think carefully about their water usage, and waste as little as possible.
What can be done to reduce the number of holes being dug in the roads?
Guernsey Water operate a number of rehabilitation programmes that involve ensuring that water mains are operating to the highest possible standard. These programmes are ongoing, as the size of the mains network means that by the time one set of pipes has been repaired, it is time for another to be repaired, and so on.
Guernsey Water always aim to minimise the disruption to the public caused by roadworks through a number of ways, such as by utilising excavations by other utility providers and working outside of peak periods during the year.
Recent works on major water mains have used a pipe-replacement method known as ‘sliplining’. Rather than removing an old pipe and replacing it with a new one, sliplining allows a smaller pipe to be slid inside the old one. This means that excavations are much smaller, and works take less time and cost less money.
It is inevitable that sections of roads will need to be excavated, but as materials improve and the network becomes ever more reliable, the impact on the public should diminish.
I think that somebody might be polluting a stream – what should I do?
If you suspect any pollution, no matter how minor, then please contact our emergency number, on 264073. Any pollution or contamination of the water supply could have serious health consequences, so it is important to report it quickly to us, and we will look into it as a matter of urgency.
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