Where Nova Scotians dealing with water shortage can get drinking water, take a shower

Nova Scotia is offering help to people experiencing water shortages.

As the hot, dry weather persists, there’s a new way to secure clean water for Nova Scotians who need it.

Nova Scotia Parks is offering access to water at seven of its sites for people experiencing a water shortage. Every day from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. people can stop by to take a shower or access drinking water.

The seven parks include:

• Blomidon
• Ellenwood Lake
• Graves Island
• Porters Lake
• Rissers Beach
• The Islands
• Valleyview

“The Department of Emergency Management is coordinating support for residents experiencing water shortages in response to a request for help from municipalities,” said a statement from Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources.

“The Department of Natural Resources is happy to help by making some of our parks facilities available for water and showers.”

At this time, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is not supplying water.

“The municipality is aware that, due to current weather conditions, some residents with private wells may experience low water levels. Providing water to private dwellings during low water levels is not a service provided by the municipality, except in cases of widespread emergency events impacting the water supply,” said an HRM spokesperson in an email to CTV News.

As for what to do if a well runs dry, the Nova Scotia government is providing some advice. It said:

• avoid filling your well with water from other sources, as this can introduce bacteria or other pollutants
• safely lower the well intake valve to access more of the water in the well if you can
• stop using your well and let it refill over time or after significant rainfall if you are able

Voluntary conservation measures

Meanwhile, Halifax Water is asking customers to follow voluntary conservation measures.

On Friday, Cumberland County Water Utility asked the same of its customers in Springhill, Parrsboro, and Pugwash. While measures are currently voluntary, that could change.

“There are a number of factors in predicting when further restrictions will need to be considered,” said Halifax Water in a statement to CTV News. “Precipitation, evaporation from continued heat, uptick in usage conservation measures from our customers and continued repairs of leaks in our system.”

Halifax Water said it is too early to tell the impacts of the voluntary measures, as they have only been in place since Tuesday. It said it will know more after a full week, which will give people more time to adjust their water use habits.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page