Channel Island water companies agree to work together

Guernsey Water and Jersey Water have signed a memorandum of understanding in order to promote knowledge and expertise sharing, as well as pledging support and resources to each other in the event of an emergency.

The memorandum was signed by Guernsey Water's General Manager, Steve Langlois, and Jersey Water's Chief Executive Officer, Helier Smith, at the Institute of Water's South West Region Weekend Conference which took place in Jersey earlier this year.

Guernsey Water's General Manager Steve Langlois said "The conference theme was collaborative working and sharing best practice, something which we already strive to do as part of our relationship with Jersey Water, putting our intentions onto paper seemed like the next logical step to really building on that relationship"

Both Jersey Water and Guernsey Water are the sole provider of treated water in their respective Islands. Jersey Water provides treated water to approximately 40,000 homes and employs 90 staff. Guernsey Water provides treated water to approximately 25,800 Customers Island-wide as well as providing a wastewater service to the Island, employing approximately 85 staff.

The utilities recognised that they have a vast amount of knowledge and expertise to share across the islands, from water catchment, treatment and storage, to customer service and staff wellbeing.

Jersey Water's Chief Executive Officer, Helier Smith, said "One of the main aims of the memorandum is to improve service to customers whilst providing a greater resilience to the Channel Island community; we believe that we can achieve this by working together."

The utility companies have agreed that they will meet at least twice a year in order to develop both businesses through sharing water industry knowledge and experience and reinforce their cultural understanding.

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