UTILITIES

If you are building a new house or restoring an old one, getting access to public utilities is an important consideration. It is therefore essential to establish how far away connections to electricity and water supplies are. If these have to be brought any distance, the cost can be quite considerable.

Electricity:

Provided you build your house in accordance with the planning consent, you will be guaranteed an electricity supply on completion. During the construction period a temporary supply will be provided. Central heating is usually provided by electricity which is reasonably priced.

Sweet Water:

The whole of the island is currently being connected to ‘sweet’ water which is replacing ‘glyfa’ water. It is being carried initially through the old ‘glyfa’ pipes but these are currently being upgraded to the larger blue pipes. There will be a charge for the ‘sweet’ water but we do not yet know how much this will be. Hopefully it will already be being piped past your property and you will be able to tap into it without too many problems.

Other Water:

You collect your own water for general use in your sterna.

Sewage and Other Waste:

Most new properties will have a septic tank or similar. Rubbish is collected from large communal rubbish bins, usually found near groups of houses, by dustcarts serving most of the island.