Facing dry conditions, low water levels, Bonavista bans non-essential water use
Hot weather, dry conditions and a lack of significant rainfall has one community on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula asking residents to limit their water use.
In July, the Town of Bonavista announced a water restriction notice. Last week, it brought in a mandatory water ban to conserve water for drinking, sanitation and emergency services.
"What we're looking at now is a water level that's only about two and a half feet above our main intake pipe," Mayor John Norman told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning.
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"So for those who don't really know what that means, that's very, very low. You can look down in the pond now and actually see the intake pipe clearly below the water surface."
According to a social media post from the town, residents were told to stop using water for activities such as washing vehicles, watering lawns and filling pools.
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Norman said every little bit helps to preserve the water they do have.
He said people who have lived in the town for decades say they've never seen water levels this low before.
He also asked people to avoid wasting water by turning off the taps while brushing teeth, and taking a quick shower instead of a bath.
"We're taking the current situation very seriously. Municipalities across various parts of Canada have had reservoirs run dry already this summer," Norman said.
In Sunnyside, near Come By Chance, the taps temporarily ran dry earlier this week because reservoir levels were so low. It also prompted the town to declare a state of emergency.
In Bonavista, Norman said the town was getting estimates about when the reservoir could run dry, and it was monitored every day.
Norman said businesses that tend to use a lot of water were also encouraged to limit their water use, if possible, and visitors were informed about the water ban.
While there was some rain in the area, Norman said it wasn't enough to top up the reservoir. He said they will need a lot of rain over several weeks to be in a better position.
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This article, written by Elizabeth Whitten, was originally published for CBC News. Contains files from Newfoundland Morning.