New Hampshire and much of New England has seen record-low rainfall over the past a month, a season when rain is usually plentiful, and is officially now in an “abnormally dry” state with drought designation possible.
The state says communities with water systems and people on private wells should start cutting back usage now.
“Stream flows throughout the state are very low and if these weather trends continue, groundwater levels and water supply wells throughout the state will soon begin to be adversely impacted,” water division director Thomas O’Donovan said in a statement.
New Hampshire had less snow than usual this past winter, which contributes to drier soils.
About two-thirds of New Hampshire homes are on private wells. The statement says people should begin conserving because “due to COVID-19, people are at home more often, which means a higher than usual demand on residential well supplies.”
In Concord, the last significant rainfall was May 15. The National Weather Service says that since then the city has seen just two-tenths of an inch of rain, compared to the average of four inches of rain that has fallen in the city between May 15 to June 15 since records began being kept in 1868. Manchester has seen only three-quarters of one inch of rain over that same period.
All of New Hampshire, and most of Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, are classified as “abnormally dry” by the NWS as of June 16, the classification level just below “moderate drought.” The service predicts that southern New Hampshire may enter official drought during this month.
A drought designation allows water utilities to enforce usage restrictions on such things as outdoor watering.
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
