Lawns are turning brown, creek beds are drying up, flowers are dying and crops are wilting.
Hot, humid temperatures coupled with no significant rainfall has led to a confirmed drought status in South Dundas.
On July 16th, South Nation Conservation (SNC) officially recognized that the area is experiencing a “level 2 low water condition.”
When contacted for news of how this will affect residents of South Dundas, Hugh Garlough, manager of public works for South Dundas, confirmed that while there are “no restrictions at this time, water conservation is always encouraged.”
“Water levels will continue to be monitored,” he said.
SNC was a bit more specific, asking that people try to consume 20 percent less water than normal.
While rural residents of South Dundas have not yet reported any dry wells, South Nation Conservation resources technician Lisa Migneault said that reports have already come in from other SNC locations of wells going dry.
The Ontario Low Water Response program, implemented in 2000, has three levels with the third being the most dire.
While Migneault can’t predict whether the area’s drought situation will reach the next level, she did point out that there has not yet been a level 3 in the program’s history.
She also explained that while the SNC’s water response team can declare a level 2 drought on its own, when it comes to a level 3 drought, things are done differently.
Should circumstances reach level 3 conditions, the water response team will make a recommendation to the province and it will ultimately be the province’s decision to upgrade the drought status to a level 3 and, in consequence, initiate any necessary restrictions on water usage.
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