Your truck looks better with dirt on it. Brown grass is all the rage. Do you really need to wash your hair today? If you must shower, how about sharing it with a friend?
Welcome to living in a drought.
Lower Trent Conservation Authority is urging us all to reduce our water use by 20 per cent. Lower Trent has joined conservation groups across Eastern Ontario in calling on residents and businesses to cut water consumption.
On Thursday Lower Trent declared a level two water condition as is said “moderate drought conditions are now being experienced throughout the watershed region.”
It had declared a level one condition a month ago.
On Tuesday, Crowe Valley Conservation Authority declared a level three condition and urged residents to cut water use by 30 per cent.
“With a level three declaration, member municipalities have the option to implement municipal by-laws to make water restrictions mandatory if they feel that is necessary for their municipality,” it says.
The June to August rainfall recorded by Environment Canada at Trenton was 106.5 millimeters, which is 49 per cent of normal precipitation for this time of year, Lower Trent says in a news release.
With the lack of rain, water levels in several local creeks have dropped. “Specifically, Rawdon Creek, Trout Creek and Hoards (Squires) Creek are currently the most impacted with reduced water levels and stream flows. As a result, drought conditions may continue in the coming weeks.”
It said non-essential water use should be suspended. “Those who hold a Permit to Take Water from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks are asked to reduce their water taking by 20 per cent as well.”
Drought conditions are even worse here in Trent Hills and further north. Crowe Valley says its level three declaration “indicates a potential failure of water supply to meet the demand.”
“The current three-month average for the precipitation gauge located at Glen Alda in the Municipality of North Kawartha is 20.27 per cent of the historical average for this time period,” it said in a news release. “The current three-month average for the precipitation gauge situated in the Municipality of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen is 40.45 per cent of the historical average.”
“As the lack of rainfall and low flows grip the watershed, it will continue to place additional stress on the larger the lakes in the watershed,” it says. “Most of the lakes are either near or below their winter levels.”
You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.