GUYSBOROUGH COUNTY — As Nova Scotia barrels toward winter, the fallout from an unusually dry season is still playing out above – and below – ground in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) and beyond.
Wells have gone dry. Neighbours have stepped in. A petition has come and gone. Questions about responsibility have been raised. But the central issue – access to reliable, safe water – isn’t going away. And, according to a leading hydrogeologist, the worst may still be ahead.
“Even if we get a fair bit more rain, it likely will not solve the problem that we have seen, especially with dug wells going dry,” said Dr. Ian Spooner, a hydrologist and professor at Acadia University in an email interview with The Journal last week. “It may take significant time, perhaps even a few years of normal precipitation, to reach the groundwater levels prior to the drought.”
That’s unsettling news for residents like Gabriel Thornley, the postmaster in Boylston, who began hauling and delivering treated water from a 1,000-litre tank this past summer when his neighbours started running out.
“So far, I have managed to deliver over 90,000 litres to anyone in need, often servicing multiple wells in a single day,” he wrote in a now-withdrawn Change.org petition calling on the MODG to begin a well-filling program. “However, the current demand is simply too much for a small handful of people to handle, especially as the situation deteriorates.”
Thornley decided to take his petition down after a MODG Facebook post warned residents against using external water sources to refill wells.
In the Oct. 30 post, the MODG acknowledged that local fire departments had historically helped fill private wells “as a fundraiser,” but emphasized that the practice is “no longer permitted” due to “safety, liability, and water quality concerns.”
The post read, “Provincial guidelines and insurance coverages clearly state that filling private wells from other sources is unsafe and not recommended,” warning that doing so could introduce contaminants, alter water chemistry, or damage wells and nearby groundwater.
What’s more, it said, “wells are directly connected to the natural water table, so any added water tends to drain away quickly and can spread contamination. Many residents who have attempted to refill their wells find them empty again within days or even hours.”
Instead, the municipality advised residents whose wells had run dry to rely on professional water delivery services equipped with “the proper equipment, insurance, and safe water sources.” Cisterns – not private wells – were the only suitable option for direct refills, the post said, and only using municipal or registered public supplies.
MODG also reminded residents that its water voucher program remains in place and that public showers are available at the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex during regular hours.
The municipality later confirmed its stance in a written statement to The Journal, citing safety and liability concerns, first and foremost.
“Provincial guidelines and insurance coverages clearly state that filling private wells from external sources is unsafe and not recommended,” stated Warden Paul Long, who also emphasized the voucher program.
“Since the end of August, approximately 160 homes have been accessing [this] program [over] every two-week period. MODG continues to monitor the situation and will maintain current support as long as required.”
Still, questions remain.
In his petition, Thornley emphasized the availability of tank trucks, filtration systems and safe surface water sources in Guysborough County. He proposed that residents could sign waivers to protect the municipality from legal exposure.
“This is not just about water,” he wrote. “It’s about safeguarding our community’s health and safety. By initiating this essential service, the MODG would demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of its residents in this critical time.”
In a follow-up interview, Thornley was careful not to criticize municipal officials directly.
“We’re just going to have to pull together to find out other ways to operate our households,” he said.
Meanwhile, others are also weighing their options.
In nearby St. Mary’s, Warden James Fuller confirmed that his council has begun planning for next season.
“We’re cautiously optimistic the weather will change... but providing it doesn’t, we’re looking at how we can deal with this... we’re dealing with this day by day... working on a plan for the future if it continues.” he said in an interview with The Journal.
The municipality echoed that stance in an Oct. 30 Facebook update, citing continued drought conditions as the reason for postponing the seasonal opening of the St. Mary’s Recplex, originally slated for Thursday, Nov. 13.
“Although we have had some rain this week, operating the rink requires a significant amount of water continuously,” the post stated.
“All available options are being pursued to prepare the rink for the upcoming season while remaining mindful of the community’s need to conserve water,” it continued, adding that updates will be posted weekly as long as conditions warrant. “We encourage everyone to continue conserving water wherever possible to help support our community resources during this dry period.”
Said Fuller: “If there’s a fire, we know what to do because eventually it goes out. This [drought] may not go out.”
Spooner said the science backs that up.
“This drought was statistically a one-in-50-year or more event,” he noted. “However, what climate science has indicated is that more extreme variability in precipitation is likely. In the unlikely (but possible) event that we face another drought like the one we are experiencing, surface water and shallow well vulnerability would increase, making the situation even more dire.”
As a result, he believes long-term infrastructure planning must become part of the conversation.
“Dug wells are more vulnerable than drilled wells in general so, if possible, a drilled well might be a more sustainable option for a rural homeowner,” he said. “Surface reservoirs are also vulnerable so farmers that depend on these might have to consider expanding their storage capacity. However, both of these adaptation strategies are expensive so, in my opinion, municipalities must consider strategies to assist those that might be most vulnerable to water shortage were another drought of this magnitude to occur.”
That resonates with Thornley, who said he continues to deliver water on an informal, neighbourly basis.
“I’m still filling wells at night for certain people,” he said. “There’s got to be something we can do.”
