Low water advisory issued in North Bay

Low water levels across the North Bay-Mattawa watershed have prompted the local conservation authority to upgrade to a Level 2 low water condition.

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority has issued a Level 2 low water advisory because of a potentially serious water supply problem.

Residents are being asked to reduce their water consumption for the next several weeks at least to help deal with the situation.

“Rainfall and/or streamflow in gauged watercourses have continued to be below normal and have met the Ministry of Natural Resources criteria for low water,” the authority said in its advisory.

A Level 3 advisory is the most severe. This is the first time the authority has issued a Level 2 advisory. The city received about half of the normal rainfall during the summer.

“Recorded rainfall at the North Bay Airport climate station for July, August, and September was a total of 170 mm this year, which is 55.8 per cent of the long-term average (1991-2020) of 305 mm,” the authority said.

The shortfall was particularly bad in August and September, when the area received about 43 per cent of normal rainfall.

Waterflow at the Chippewa Creek gauge is at half its summer average and just 27 per cent of what it is normally at this time of year.

Warm, dry fall expected

“Though there are no criteria for water levels in the Ontario Low Water Response program, water levels on Lake Nipissing are low and declining,” officials said.

Current conditions are available here.

Environment Canada is also forecasting a warmer and drier fall season, with 13-20 mm of rain expected to fall by Oct. 20. By contrast, the city needs about 75 mm of rain in that time to end the low water advisory.

This is the first confirmed Level 2 low water condition in the North Bay-Mattawa watershed.

“Level 2 low water status indicates a potentially serious water supply problem, based on the precipitation and streamflow criteria established by the Ministry of Natural Resources,” the authority said.

“Due to the lack of rainfall and low water levels across the watershed, all residents are encouraged to voluntarily further reduce their water consumption, targeting an overall water usage reduction of 20 per cent.”

Low water levels mean boaters are encouraged to exercise additional caution in areas with low water.

Updated information on water levels can be found at the authority’s website.