Recent rain not enough to alleviate dry conditions and low water levels

A bridge at the Carp River Conservation Area. June 10, 2024. (Austin Lee/CTV News Ottawa)

Recent rainfall in the Ottawa region has not been enough to alleviate dry conditions and low water levels in some rivers, according to a local conservation authority.

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority issued a Level 2 low water advisory for the Mississippi River watershed on Friday and a Level 3 low water advisory for the Carp River watershed.

Level 2 is a “moderate” low water level, while Level 3 is considered “severe.” Three is the highest level under the the Ontario Low Water Response Program.

“June through August experienced below-average rainfall combined with above-average temperatures, resulting in increasingly dry conditions across the Mississippi River Watershed. Over the past 90 days, rainfall across the watershed has remained below 80 per cent of the long-term seasonal average. Conditions have deteriorated further in the last 30 days, with rainfall falling to less than 40 per cent of the seasonal norm,” the conservation authority said in a news release.

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“Streamflow in the Carp River has been persistently low, falling to less than 5 per cent of long-term historical average for most of August. Precipitation over the past 90 days has dropped below 70 per cent of the long-term seasonal average and conditions have deteriorated further in the last 30 days, with rainfall falling to less than 30 per cent of the seasonal norm.”

In a memo to city councillors and the mayor, the City of Ottawa’s general manager of Infrastructure and Water Services, Tammy Rose, said the Carp River watershed includes five Ottawa wards: Kanata North, Kanata South, West Carleton-March, Stittsville, and Rideau-Jock.

“The current low water conditions are only impacting residents who receive their drinking water via a private drinking water system (for example, groundwater wells). The current low water conditions are not impacting the City’s central drinking water,” Rose said.

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is asking all water users that are not on the City of Ottawa’s municipal distribution network to reduce their water consumption by 50 per cent in the Carp River watershed and by 20 per cent in the Mississippi River watershed, which includes places like Carleton Place.

Neither the City of Ottawa nor the conservation authority can dictate how the owners of private wells use their water, but well users are strongly encouraged to follow recommendations to reduce non-essential water use.

Residents with dry wells requiring water to fill containers can access City of Ottawa arenas and community centres during regular operating hours. Residents requiring access to shower facilities can go to any municipal pool during operating hours. A list of facilities and schedules can be found on the city’s website.

Ottawa received 6 millimetres of rain on Thursday, according to Environment Canada, and 48.2 mm in all of August, with 34.6 mm falling on Aug. 28. The last four months have been drier than average.