A rocky shore with a bit of water, and a man in red vest holding pole.Bonavista Mayor John Norman says town officials are monitoring the reservoir’s water levels daily. (Town of Bonavista/Facebook)

Hot weather, dry conditions and a lack of significant rainfall has one community on Newfoundland’s Bonavista Peninsula asking residents to limit their water use.

In July, the Town of Bonavista announced a water restriction notice. Last week, it brought in a mandatory water ban to conserve water for drinking, sanitation and emergency services.

“What we’re looking at now is a water level that’s only about two and a half feet above our main intake pipe,” Mayor John Norman told CBC Radio’s Newfoundland Morning.

“So for those who don’t really know what that means, that’s very, very low. You can look down in the pond now and actually see the intake pipe clearly below the water surface.”

LISTEN | CBC’s Martin Jones chats with Mayor John Norman about water conservation efforts: 

CBC Newfoundland MorningDry conditions and hot temperatures mean a shrinking water supply for the town of Bonavista

It’s been a very hot and dry summer for much of the province. Many communities, including the Town of Bonavista are worried about their water levels, The water supply there has gotten so low, the Town had to put in a usage ban. That means stopping all non-essential water use, such as washing vehicles or watering lawns. John Norman is the mayor of Bonavista.

According to a social media post from the town, residents were told to stop using water for activities such as washing vehicles, watering lawns and filling pools.

Norman said every little bit helps to preserve the water they do have.

He said people who have lived in the town for decades say they’ve never seen water levels this low before.

A man wearing a white t-shirt and blue flannel jacket smiles.Bonavista Mayor John Norman says the town needs rain — and plenty of it — to replenish the reservoir. (Lindsay Bird/CBC)

He also asked people to avoid wasting water by turning off the taps while brushing teeth, and taking a quick shower instead of a bath. 

“We’re taking the current situation very seriously. Municipalities across various parts of Canada have had reservoirs run dry already this summer,” Norman said.

In Sunnyside, near Come By Chance, the taps temporarily ran dry earlier this week because reservoir levels were so low. It also prompted the town to declare a state of emergency.

In Bonavista, Norman said the town was getting estimates about when the reservoir could run dry, and it was monitored every day.