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Area facing potential water shortages this summer

June 8, 2012, Kawartha Lakes, Ont. – Kawartha Conservation has declared a
Level 1 low water condition and is encouraging a voluntary 10 per cent
reduction in non-essential water use across the entire Kawartha
Conservation watershed.

June 8, 2012, Kawartha Lakes, Ont. – Kawartha Conservation has declared a Level 1 low water condition and is encouraging a voluntary 10 per cent reduction in non-essential water use across the entire Kawartha Conservation watershed. This includes areas within the City of Kawartha Lakes, Scugog, Brock, Galway-Cavendish & Harvey, Cavan Monaghan, and Clarington.
 
Despite recent rainfall, the area has received much less precipitation than normal, triggering the Level 1 condition under the Ontario Low Water Response (OLWR) program. This level is declared when we receive only 80 per cent of the normal amount of precipitation over a three-month period, which is the lowest of three levels, and the first indication of potential water supply problems.
 
Local rivers and streams are still flowing above the OLWR program threshold, but are below normal water levels for this time of year. This is due to a number of factors, including a reduced snowpack during the winter months, an earlier spring, a lack of precipitation, and less infiltration to ground water aquifers.
 
Ground water aquifers have not been recharged sufficiently. Since it takes longer for ground water to reflect changes in recharge amounts, especially for deeper aquifers, there is potential for water shortages in wells and rivers this summer.
 
Kawartha Conservation is asking residential, agricultural, and commercial water users, on both municipal systems and private wells, to do their part by reducing non-essential water use by 10 per cent and conserve water. This may include not washing your car, rinsing the driveway, or watering the lawn, and fixing leaky faucets and installing low flow devices. Taking action now will help avoid water shortages in the upcoming months.
 
For more information about the OLWR program and an extensive list of water saving tips, visit www.kawarthaconservation.com/lowwater or contact Iryna Shulyarenko, hydrologist, at 705-328-271 ext. 219 or ishulyarenko@kawarthaconservation.com.