High-volume Water Consumers Asked to Conserve

The Nova Scotia Department of the Environment is asking high-volume water consumers in the province to make every effort to use the resource more conservatively during the current dry period.

"We are in the midst of a dry summer. In some areas streams are already dry," said Kate Moir, manager of the eco-systems and risk management at the Department of the Environment. "A few good days of rain will make a significant difference, but, in the meantime, we're asking for prudent use of this resource."

Water consumers who draw more than 23,000 litres of water daily from groundwater, lakes or streams in Nova Scotia must have the required approval from the department. This applies to farmers, water haulers, bottling plants, golf courses, industrial operations and municipalities.

"The approvals system controls the number and volume of withdrawals within any given lake, aquifer or stream," said Ms. Moir. "This ensures there is enough water to go around, and in the case of surface water, it protects fish habitat."

The Department of the Environment is monitoring withdrawals from surface watercourses and assessing the impact on stream flows, especially in the Annapolis Valley.

People using water without approval run the risk of being stopped at any time without previous notice. In the event that dry conditions continue and conservation and co-operative efforts prove unsuccessful, Nova Scotia Department of the Environment will take further action. Water users will be advised in advance.

Groundwater levels in the province appear to be holding. Data at several observation wells around the province indicates small declines in levels but within the range of expected seasonal fluctuations. However, surface water flow records show the province's rivers have been low since April. Levels vary across the province depending on local rainfall amounts. In June, record-low flows were recorded on the Northeast Margaree, the St. Mary's and the LaHave rivers. Flows continued below normal throughout July. Smaller streams and brooks are affected more than the larger rivers, and lake levels are also low for this time of year.

This lack of surface water is causing problems for water users and places fresh water habitat at risk. Farmers, generally those using smaller tributary streams for irrigation such as Black River in Annapolis County, are finding that their source of supply is drying up.

Low rainfall has also increased the demand for water haulers to provide water for domestic use. Unusually frequent withdrawals from some of the smaller lakes such as Halfway and Beaver in Halifax Regional Municipality have resulted in complaints from property owners and the public who fish, swim, or boat in the lakes.

"The exceptionally dry spring and summer is the basic cause of this problem," said Ms. Moir. "Regardless of the need for an approval, water conservation is a good management practice, and in a year like this when water is at a premium, it is a necessity."