Prince Edward Island’s water levels are dipping during the ongoing hot, dry spell affecting much of Atlantic Canada, but the province says this is normal for late summer.
Sean Ledgerwood, P.E.I.’s manager of water and air monitoring, said the Island relies entirely on groundwater for its drinking water supply.
“We rely on this relatively large aquifer under P.E.I.,” Ledgerwood told CBC News.
“What we see is normal seasonal fluctuations where the water level will get low this time of year, and then in the fall as we get more restoration, the recharge will bring that back up.”
Sean Ledgerwood, manager of water and air monitoring for the province, says the Island’s low water levels are a normal seasonal fluctuation for late summer. (CBC)
The province operates 14 groundwater monitoring stations, with data available on the P.E.I. water registry.
Ledgerwood said current readings show overall levels slightly below average. A few wells in western P.E.I. and one in the eastern part of the province are approaching historic lows, but Ledgerwood said that’s not cause for alarm.
“It’s not abnormal to see either historic highs or lows each year. It’s more the trend going forward that you want to keep watching. And we do watch that continually.”
He added that mid-August to early September is typically the driest period on the Island. After this time, increased rainfall helps replenish the aquifer to normal levels.
‘Try to conserve water where you can’
Low water levels are being reported in many parts of Atlantic Canada. In New Brunswick, people are being urged to conserve water, while Halifax is offering free drinking water to residents of the municipality who have dry wells. Parts of Nova Scotia are now in severe drought.
This week, the City of Charlottetown reminded residents that seasonal water restrictions remain in place until the end of September.
The St. John River, which flows through the western and southern parts of New Brunswick, is one of many experiencing low levels in that province. (Aniekan Etuhube/CBC)
Outdoor watering is only allowed between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., and between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Hosing down hard surfaces, such as sidewalks and driveways, is prohibited.
The city says the restrictions are necessary to keep water use within its supply capacity.
Ledgerwood said people across the Island should take similar steps.
“Try to conserve water where you can,” he said. “That’s always good, regardless of the time of the year.”
Surface water levels also monitored
The province also monitors surface water in areas like streams and rivers where water is withdrawn for irrigation.
On P.E.I., a water withdrawal permit is required to take more than 25 cubic metres of surface water per day from those areas.
Ledgerwood said the province checks these sites against maintenance flow levels — the minimum needed to keep a healthy ecosystem for fish and other aquatic life.
“Some of the sites are getting close to that maintenance flow level, and some of them are quite fine and normal. So it really depends on the river,” he said.
Right now, the department is keeping a close watch on Southwest Brook in Prince County and the Montague River in eastern P.E.I.
“Those are just ones that have permits on them. So that’s where our stations are,” Ledgerwood said.Â
If a stream or river falls below its maintenance flow, any water withdrawals must immediately stop.