£11m. Ring Main Project Begins its Next Phase
Guernsey Water will begin the next phase of one of its biggest infrastructure investments in decades next month, with work starting on a major upgrade to the island’s water network that will help secure supplies to the north of the island for the rest of the century.
The work forms part of the utility’s £11m Ring Main Project, a long-term programme designed to ensure the water network can continue to support future island development while safeguarding supplies for existing customers. The project is expected to be completed around 2032.
Installation began in late 2024 on Rectory Hill, before moving to Route de L’eglise in 2025 – laying 1.2km of new main.
Phase four begins on 1st September and lasts until 21st December 2026, when Guernsey Water and its contractor, Geomarine Ltd, will install around 850 metres of new water main along Route de la Hougue du Pommier and Route de la Charruée. The section represents an investment of more than £1m and will see a pipe twice the size of the existing main laid beneath the road. This is the largest single capital investment by the utility in 2026.
A ring main acts like a motorway within the water network, carrying large volumes of water around the island while maintaining flow and pressure as smaller mains branch off to supply homes and businesses.
Carl Falla, Capital Delivery Manager at Guernsey Water, said:
"This is one of the most significant infrastructure projects Guernsey Water has undertaken for many years and it's all about planning decades ahead rather than reacting to problems when they happen. This project will future-proof supplies to the northern parishes until the end of the century, and transport tens of billions of litres of water in its lifespan. In the water business you have to think years, if not decades, ahead – and with this project, we’re doing exactly that.
"The existing ring main is approaching capacity. By investing now, we're making sure the network can support Guernsey's future housing, business and industry needs while continuing to provide the reliable service our customers expect. If we left the current main in place, there is a real chance of it bursting in the years ahead, and leaving thousands of people with low pressure or even no water – costing far more, and taking far longer, to fix.
“Most people will not think about the vast array of pipes beneath their feet taking water from reservoirs to treatment centres, via the mains to their tap, but it is there, 24 hours a day, all year round, delivering water for life. Once complete, the Ring Main will one of the most important pieces of infrastructure we have – quietly sending millions of litres of water a day to homes and businesses.
"We recognise a road closure of this duration will cause disruption and we'd like to thank residents and road users for their patience while we complete this essential investment in the island's water infrastructure."
Water supplies will remain uninterrupted throughout the work.
All residents along the road were written to before the works commenced.
Updates will be provided on the Guernsey Water Facebook page and in the media.