Province urges people to conserve water this winter as drought conditions remain 'extreme'

With a slim chance of significant rain between now and the New Year, the province is urging New Brunswickers to conserve water this winter.

"Until significant precipitation returns, every drop saved counts,” Environment Minister Gilles LePage said in a statement this week.

The province is still experiencing below-normal rain levels for this time of year, according to a recent provincial water report.

The New Brunswick Water Association said the colder months will make it even more difficult for wells to be replenished.

"The ground will freeze up and there’s no water going into the ground," executive director Roger Roy said. "Depending on the amount of snow that we have this year ... we might see wells drying up next summer also."

That's why the province is suggesting people continue the habits they picked up during the recent summer drought, such as taking shorter showers and not washing cars.

It also suggests waiting until loads are full before using laundry machines and dishwashers, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth and installing low-flow faucets.

The eastern half of New Brunswick experienced "extreme drought" in September, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor.

Some southern regions like Fundy-Albert fell into the most severe category on the national scale, "exceptional drought."

According to the New Brunswick Water Resource Report, there were one or two rain events in September. And those only brought "light to moderate rainfall," amounting to 44 per cent of typical September rainfall.

Though parts of the province have seen a few rainy days lately, Roy said it's not enough for water to seep several feet down into well systems.

"If you take a shovel, and you go out in your backyard and you dig a hole, you'll probably see right now ... maybe an inch or so of wet ground," he said.

"It can take months. Depending on the amount of rain, it can take years."

According to the province's water resource report, Environment Canada is predicting above average temperatures and below normal precipitation this month and in December.