JERSEY Water has refused to rule out “temporary restrictions” should extended dry spells continue throughout the summer with the Island in the midst of more record-breaking weather.
Defined as a period of at least three consecutive days when the daily maximum air temperature reaches at least 28°C, the Island’s longest recorded heatwave stands at six consecutive days – seen on at least two previous occasions.
As of yesterday, Jersey had marked five days in a row of temperatures above 30°C, with today and Sunday anticipated to reach 31°C and 30°C respectively.
Jersey Met senior forecaster Andrei Steau said that the worldwide pattern of more frequent and prolonged heatwaves was “likely one of the main consequences of global warming”.
He added: “We can start to say with more and more confidence that this new norm is becoming more established the more time goes on.”
Meanwhile, Jersey Water has stated that the desalination plant is “on standby” and that, while a hosepipe ban “is not currently required”, temporary restrictions could be introduced later this year if the dry weather persists.
Mark Bowden, Jersey Water’s head of water resilience and emergency planning, said that reservoir levels – currently around the ten-year average at 84% full – were “dropping more quickly due to the higher customer demand during this prolonged dry weather and lack of rain”.
“We still have a long summer of peak demand ahead of us and reservoirs will typically fall to their lowest in September and October,” he continued.
“With an official drought looking potentially on the cards, we are, as you would expect, closely monitoring weather conditions, water supplies and demand.”
Mr Bowden added: “While a hosepipe ban is not currently required, if this dry weather persists, we can’t rule out needing to introduce temporary restrictions at some point this year.
“First though, we will always appeal to the public to help make the Island’s supplies last longer by cutting back on how they use water and only using what’s essential.”
Mr Bowden outlined a number of “simple steps” to help protect supplies, including taking shorter showers, only running full loads in washing machines and dishwashers and avoiding unnecessary outdoor watering.
The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service’s head of fire prevention, station commander Chris Smith, said that the risk of wildfires “has increased”.
“Wildfires and large open fires are the most challenging for firefighters to tackle. They are extremely resource-intensive and use a lot of personnel and firefighting resources.”
He highlighted that “many wildfires are preventable and often caused by everyday activities”.
“So we’re asking Islanders to refrain from using disposable barbecues during this extreme weather, to discard and dispose of smoking materials responsibly, to refrain from littering and disposing of glass bottles in headlands, and also to refrain from using any open landfires.
“If you do spot any smoke or fire, call 999 immediately.”
Mr Bowden added that preventing wildfires is also important for protecting the Island’s water supplies. He said: “Our reservoirs are there for everyone to enjoy and for nature to flourish, but the current dry conditions and increasing winds mean even a small act of carelessness could have serious consequences.
“Wildfires can cause significant damage, put wildlife and public at risk and require substantial emergency efforts and water to get under control. We need everyone to take extra care and act responsibly, both at our reservoirs and elsewhere across Jersey. It’s not a big ask to protect our Island and our water this summer.”
