Ottawa residents on wells asked to voluntarily reduce water use

A well is pictured in this undated image. (Pavlo Semeniuk/Unsplash)

The City of Ottawa says it is advising residents in some rural villages who draw water from wells to voluntarily conserve water as dry weather conditions continue.

This comes as the South Nation Conservation Authority issues a “Level 2” low water advisory.

The conservation authority declared the moderate low water condition on Monday for the South Nation River watershed. Under the advisory, all water users in the affected area who are not on the City of Ottawa’s central drinking water system are asked to reduce non-essential water use by 20 per cent.

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“Recorded rainfall over the past 30 to 90 days has fallen well below the long-term seasonal average. Low rainfall has contributed to reduced stream flows in the South Nation River Watershed, with many headwater tributaries going completely dry,” the conservation authority said.

Ways to conserve water:

• Avoid pressure washing homes, driveways, and decks.
• Limit or delay non-essential outdoor watering; if needed, water only in the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
• If you hold a Permit to Take Water, reduce your water takings as much as possible.

In a memo to councillors and the mayor, city staff say the South Nation watershed includes portions of Ward 10 – Gloucester-Southgate, Ward 19, Orléans-South Navan, Ward 20, Osgoode, and Ward 22, Riverside South-Findlay Creek.

The City of Ottawa draws its urban drinking water from the Ottawa River, and staff say the dry conditions are not affecting the central drinking water system. Additionally, staff say Ottawa’s six communal well systems have not experienced water capacity constraints thus far; however, the city is recommending residents in Carp, Munster, Richmond, Greely and Vars follow the recommended water conservation measures of the applicable conservation authority, “out of an abundance of caution.”

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has issued a “Level 1” low water level for the Kemptville Creek, Jock River and Lower Rideau River. The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has issued a Level 2 alert for the Carp River watershed.