THUNDER BAY – The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) says drought conditions in the Region are getting worse. The LRCA’s Water Response Team (WRT) has upgraded the Level I Low Water condition, which was declared on April 19,2010, to a Level II Low Water Condition for the region which includes the City of Thunder Bay, Municipalities of Oliver Paipoonge, Neebing and Shuniah as well as the Townships of O’Connor, Conmee, Gillies and Dorion.
A Level II Low Water Condition exists when monthly precipitation is between 40% to 60% of average. For the three month period of February to April the area received approximately 41 % of the average precipitation typically seen in our area for this period.
People who rely on wells for their drinking water may experience minor supply issues and there is the potential for major supply problems. The Water Response Team recommends that all water users (residential, municipal, commercial, industrial, etc.) voluntarily reduce water use by 20% or more to help ensure that adequate water supplies remain available.
The last time the region was in a Level II Low Water Condition was between November 2006 and July 2007. At that time large sections of shorel ine were exposed and many property owners had to extend their water lines.
Criteria for declaring a Low Water condition are set out within the Ontario Low Water Response Program which the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority administers within its Area of Jurisdiction. More information is available on the Authority website: www.lakeheadca.com