Hot, dry summer causing strain on local water supply

The hot, dry summer is putting a strain on the water supply in southern Quebec as wells in the region are drying up.

As a result, well diggers say they’re overwhelmed.

“The dry weather causes a lot of people to miss water. So we have a lot of calls to either re-dig some wells or to dig new ones,” said Philip Sardinha, co-owner of Puisatiers Experts in Granby, Que.

He estimates anywhere from five to 10 calls a day. And in the past month they’ve had to dig deeper wells and installed 15 to 20 new ones.

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According to the environment ministry one quarter of Quebecers rely on ground water.

“That’s the main concern that people are going, without water,” he said, adding they might have to get water from neighbours.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says there has been intense rainfall over the course of the summer but those, were followed by long periods of dry conditions. While no records have been broken for dry spells, they are among the longest recorded.

“Having these longer stretches of dry conditions has made it difficult for the water levels in general to be near normal,” said Environment Canada Meteorologist Steven Flisfeder.

“We get these, really strong rainfalls, every two or three weeks, give or take, and water levels rise, but then these long stretches of not just dry but also very warm stretches through much of July and early August where things, we’re drying out, not just, from the lack of rain, but also from, evaporation from all the heat.”

Flisfeder says the long range forecast is normal but that doesn’t mean there won’t be more dry conditions. Meaning well diggers might remain busy into the fall.