Ring main section completed in Castel as Guernsey Water plans for the future
- Guernsey Water has finished phase three of its ring main project.
- The project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.
- Installation included 500m of pipework under Rue de L’eglise.
- Additional refurbishment of foul water manholes occurred during the closure.
- The comprehensive ring main project spans five to seven years and is budgeted at £11 million.
Guernsey Water has successfully completed phase three of its ring main project in Castel, finishing ahead of the scheduled timeline and on budget. The project involved the installation of 500 metres of pipework under the public highway.
Initially planned to occur in two sections, this installation, which included the first section intended for completion this year and a second section expected in 2026, was executed entirely within a single road closure of 12 weeks.
Carl Falla, Capital Delivery Manager, said, “It’s very difficult to predict any difficulties and delays the team may come across during a project like this, and we are delighted that minimal issues combined with an amazing team, made up of both Guernsey Water staff and contractors from Geomarine, have resulted in this phase being completed on budget and ahead of time.”
During the road closure, the team also undertook refurbishment and replacement of several problematic foul water manholes, reducing the need for additional disruptions due to further closures.
The ring main project aims to future-proof water supplies for the Northern Parishes of Guernsey, providing sustainable service until 2100 at an estimated cost of around £11 million. This infrastructure functions like a motorway within the water network, maintaining consistent pressure while allowing other mains to connect.
"We're acting now to prevent problems in the future - a responsible course of action that is far less costly than fixing problems as and when they happen. A failure of the current ring main would leave thousands without water."
Comments ()