Is the tap water safe to drink in Guernsey and Jersey?
Yes, from the mains on both islands. Jersey Water reports that 99.95% of its tests met the regulatory requirements in 2024, and Guernsey Water's latest published annual report, for 2022, gives 99.98% compliance across 7,707 samples.
What the official figures say
WHO and UNICEF publish figures for Jersey only, where 92.8% of people had safely managed drinking water at home in 2024. About 91.3% have piped water, so most of the gap is homes that aren't on the mains.
Jersey Water has been monitoring PFAS in its streams, reservoirs and treated water since 1989, and the treated water leaving its Handois and Augrès works was fully compliant in 2024.
Why a public tap can still be different
Some homes and businesses on the islands draw water from private boreholes, and from the outside their taps look just like a tap on the mains. Taps at slipways and harbours may be for boats or rinsing.
Check the tap, then tell the next person
Check for a sign and look at the spout before drinking. If you find a tap you can drink from, add it to Fontavio or review it, and say which island it's on.
Sources
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, household drinking water data (2025 update, estimates for 2024) (checked 2026-09-22)
- Jersey Water, 2024 Water Quality Report (checked 2026-09-22)
- Guernsey Water, 2022 Water Quality Report (checked 2026-09-22)
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