Despite the dry weather this summer, the groundwater table in Prince Edward Island remains in good shape thanks to the unusual weather conditions last winter.
The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment maintains 10 observation wells across the province where groundwater table elevations are monitored on a continuous basis.
Minister Chester Gillan said because the water table was so high at the beginning of the summer, it is still at fairly high levels in most locations.
"While it seems strange when we are experiencing such dry conditions, water levels are still at record highs at the Summerside and Charlottetown observation wells," the Minister said.
In Georgetown, where the well is shallow and the depth to the water table is much less than in Charlottetown or Summerside, Minister Gillan said the situation is different.
"The water levels in Georgetown have been affected more by the extremely dry conditions. But while the levels are currently at historic lows, they are only 25 centimetres below levels often seen at this time of the year."
The level of the water table in the summer depends more on the amount of recharge in the spring than the amount of precipitation in the summer. Last spring, the heavy snow melt, combined with little frost in the ground, drove the water table in PEI to record high levels.
During the summer, the level of the water table falls because there is little or no recharge to groundwater. During these months, there is no excess water to filter down to the water table, as the amount of precipitation that falls during the summer is typically less than the amount that evaporates and is used by growing plants. However, because water table elevations peaked at such a high level in the spring, PEI is not experiencing the same water problems as some other areas of the country this summer.
Minister Gillan said his Department has not received any reports of dry wells. While some Island municipalities have asked residents to restrict water use, the Minister noted that is a reflection of pumping capacity as opposed to water levels. However, Minister Gillan is quick to add that it is wise to practice water conservation at all times.
"We should all treat water as the valuable resource that it is. That means using water as efficiently as possible today to protect the resource for the future."
Minister Gillan said groundwater levels in PEI will likely continue to decline into October or November when cooler weather, decreased plant activity, and fall rains will lead to a recharge of the water table.
BACKGROUNDER -- WATER CONSERVATION
Canadians use 343 litres of water per person per day, second only to the United States. By comparison, in France, water usage is 150 litres per person per day. Furthermore, Prince Edward Islanders are among the largest water users in Canada. The average Island family uses between 1,140 and 1,820 litres of water per day. There are several simple steps people can take to conserve water throughout their homes. Water conservation doesn't mean "doing without," it simply means reducing the amount of water we waste. The following list provides some examples:
In the Kitchen:
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge instead of running the tap until the water gets cold every time you want a drink of water.
• Use the dishwasher only with full loads and on the shortest cycle possible.
• When hand-washing dishes, never run the water continuously. Fill the sink just enough to cover the dishes and use a second sink or pan to rinse.
• Don't thaw food under a running tap. Instead, put it in a bowl of warm water.
• Wash fruit and vegetables in a partially filled sink and rinse them quickly under the tap.
• When boiling vegetables, use just enough water to cover them and keep the lid on the pot so the steam doesn't escape. Better still, steam vegetables.
• Repair leaks immediately. A leaking faucet can drip away 25 litres of water per day. That's almost 10,000 litres per year. Many homes lose more water from leaky taps than they need for cooking and drinking.
In the Bathroom:
• Do not leave the water running when brushing your teeth, washing your hands or shaving. Simply turning off the tap saves 10 to 20 litres.
• Take shorter showers. At 15 to 20 litres of water a minute, this is one of the biggest water users in the house. For baths, avoid filling the tub to the top.
• Consider replacing older fixtures with low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets. A five-minute shower with a standard shower head uses 100 litres of water, whereas a five-minute shower with a low-flow shower head uses 35 litres of water.
• Repair toilet leaks immediately. A leaking toilet can waste more than 500 litres of water per day.
Outdoors:
• Water your garden in the evening or early morning and only as needed. A single lawn sprinkler spraying 19 litres per minute uses 50% more water in just one hour than a combination of ten toilet flushes, two five-minute showers, two dishwasher loads, and a full load of clothes.
• Use a bucket of water to wash your car instead of the hose. You will save 300 litres of water.
• Similarly, use a broom to clean your driveway, not the hose. You will save another 200 litres of water.
For more information on water conservation, contact the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment, Water Resources Division, at (902) 368-5044 (toll-free 1-866-368-5044 for long distance callers), or refer to Environment Canada's freshwater website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/water.