2025 Water Changes Confirmed
Typical household water bills are set to rise by between £5 and £8 a month next year as Guernsey Water looks to continue investment in maintaining the island's networks.
The annual increase, from 1 January, will see household bills for metered customers rise by around 11%, and for unmetered customers by around 12%. This means that household water and wastewater charges combined will be on average £1.65 per day for metered customers, and £2.44 per day for unmetered customers.
Guernsey Water managing director, Steve Langlois, said the utility had borne significantly higher costs in the last two years due to inflation. Increases in the cost of engineering and construction had been particularly acute. Bill increases had been kept to a minimum, but after several years of financial losses, steps needed be taken to ensure the utility can continue investing in essential services. All income from the increase in charges will go towards providing these services, no dividends are paid by Guernsey Water.
Mr Langlois said: "We look after a vast network of 14 reservoirs, more than 500 km of underground water pipes, two treated water reservoirs, three water treatment works, over 300 km of drainage pipes, 58 pumping stations and the wastewater centre at Belle Greve. This is some of the island's most critical infrastructure that must provide a service around the clock, 365 days a year.
"It has taken over 100 years to develop these facilities and they require continual investment to maintain and renew them, and for reasons that are out of our control the cost of doing this has increased considerably. This is a challenge for all utility companies.
"By borrowing to fund some of this investment, we will spread the cost to customers over time. We are also reducing our costs. For example, changing how we maintain our wastewater assets delivered a saving of £325,000 last year, and we are expecting to make further efficiencies when this service is brought in house next year. The renewal of the St Saviour's Water Treatment Works will also improve efficiency there.
"Despite these savings other cost increases mean we are unable to avoid putting charges up in 2025."
The cesspit emptying charge will increase from £9.09 per load to £10.47, which covers a third of the cost of providing the service, in line with States of Guernsey policy. The other two thirds of the cost is funded from wastewater charges paid by all customers.
"The main reason for this increase is an investment of £2.8 million in new tankers. These will replace older vehicles, which will improve reliability and reduce future maintenance and running costs. There will be further savings in the long term because a new vehicle design means the tank can be reused when the chassis needs replacing.
"By the end of the year new online services will also be in place for our cesspit customers, and we will be announcing those very shortly."
Mr Langlois described the renewal of St Saviour's water treatment works, which is near completion, as "one of the most complex engineering projects on the island". As well as reducing operating costs, it will also deliver improvements in water quality and resilience. Other major projects this year included a water collection main replacement at Moulin Huet and a wastewater pumping station upgrade at La Piette.
Mr Langlois said: "These assets have served our community for generations, and their renovation will ensure they continue delivering for decades to come.
"The increase in charges in 2025 will ensure that schemes which are vital for protecting public health and enable much needed housing development, also progress.
In 2025, Guernsey Water will be investing £6.4 million in the Island's water network and other infrastructure. This will include a continuation of the water ring main replacement. The cost of this £11 million investment will be spread over the seven years it will take to deliver. This vital scheme was planned in response to development in the north of the island over recent years and will ensure a sufficient and resilient water supply for many generations to come.
Anyone concerned about how the charges will impact them is asked to call Guernsey Water on 229500.