New approaches for drought conditions
Southwestern N.S. municipal units always looking ahead to what summer may bring
While it's too soon to tell what weather the summer of 2022 will bring to southwestern Nova Scotia, drought conditions in four of the last six years that have left some residential wells dry remains an ongoing consideration for municipal councils in the region.
"Certainly, as we continue to experience climate change, more extremes relating to temperatures and precipitation are likely to happen," says Allister Aalders, SaltWire Weather Specialist.
"When you look back at data over the last five years or so, we're generally seeing milder temperatures and less rain over much of southwestern Nova Scotia. During that time some locations had their driest summer on record in 2016, including Yarmouth, which also had its driest
June on record in 2020,” says Aalders.
"One of the big issues during the summer months is that there isn't much (rainfall), but a lot of the rainfall we receive comes in very fast, short periods and can often be scattered," Aalders adds. "The dry ground is not able to absorb the heavy rain over a short period as easily as an event where it rains for most of the day, so a lot of that water ends up running off."
"Another issue is that much of southwestern Nova Scotia has been experiencing less snowfall than average, or much of it melts not long after," he says. "So, during the spring thaw there isn't as much snow absorbing into the ground to help replenish groundwater."
When drought conditions first started occurring years ago, many municipalities provided free drinking water, engaged local fire departments to fill containers at residences with non-potable water, or made water hoses available at various community buildings, such as fire halls and arenas for filling containers with non-potable water.
Seeking more permanent, sustainable solutions, in 2019 – at the request of former Municipal Affairs Minister Chuck Porter – the municipalities of Argyle, Barrington, Yarmouth and the Region of
Queens submitted a SouthWest/South-Shore Nova Scotia Water Shortage Response Proposal.
They have never received a response.
“When it became clear that the province was not going to respond to the proposal, which Minister Porter requested be submitted, each municipal unit took an individual approach to the matter,” says Victoria Brooks, CAO for the Municipality of Yarmouth.
“Access to reliable drinking water, once taken for granted in our community, is now an ongoing consideration for both council and residents,” she says.
Brooks says Yarmouth municipal council has taken steps that would: 1) Manage residents' expectations during unseasonably dry weather patterns; 2) Foster independence by residents where there is no municipal water utility, and 3) Clearly communicate with residents about what constitutes a drought, as well as resources available both from the municipality and the province to help in specific circumstances.
The results have been the municipality will no longer distribute free drinking water during dry weather or droughts and it will not be available at the Mariner Centre either. Residents are directed to use the Town of Yarmouth's bulk water station on Forest Street, which the town constructed as an asset to the residents of its neighbouring municipalities.
The municipality is also looking at the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law to consider policies and regulations that will better ensure development occurs where reliable drinking water can be accessed.
The municipality partnered with its local regional emergency management group and its senior safety coordinator to create a list of resources to help support the most vulnerable residents, as well as look for ways to assist residents who fall between the cracks.
The municipality also increased promotion of the well lending program and did not place any annual limits on the number of loans to be granted annually.
“We have 27 loans on the books since the by-law was passed in 2017,” Brooks says.
Water upgrade lending programs have been initiated in a number of municipalities, including the Municipality of Barrington.
Since implementation, 12 households have taken advantage of the program, says Chris Frotten, CAO for the Municipality of Barrington.
Municipal council will be considering a recommendation from their Committee of the Whole to enhance the water upgrade lending program by incorporating a grant component for low to medium-income households when it meets on March 28.
The Committee of the Whole made the decision after consideration of a staff report about a bulk water source the municipality had initially hoped to construct.
In its research in preparing the report, the municipality learned that the project would be far more expensive and complicated than originally expected.
The municipality had included $100,000 in this year's capital budget to construct a bulk water source in the municipality.