Maine’s third summer of drought conditions could start to affect wells in the state

Gravel bars are evident on the Aroostook River near the mouth of the Presque Isle Stream on July 11. The Aroostook River feeds gravel aquifers that supply drinking water to almost 6,000 people, and as of July, the river's flow is less than half of the average for this time of year. (Anthony Brino)

At Maple Knoll Farm in Solon, they’ve been keeping a close eye on their well as conditions remain dry or abnormally dry over much of Maine this summer.

The 10-foot-deep old-style dug well supplies water for the farm’s 25 goats, three cows and gardens.

“We’ve been monitoring it,” farm owner Michelle Schrader said. “It hasn’t gotten worrisome low.”

But three years of dry summers have not done any favors for Maine’s groundwater supply, according to a state water expert.

“People are starting to run out of water,” said Ryan Gordon, hydrogeologist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. “It’s going to affect more people as drought [conditions] for the third summer in a row cover a lot of the state.”

Dry conditions

According to the United States Drought Monitor, much of northern, coastal and western Maine are experiencing abnormally dry conditions. Southern Maine is in a moderate drought.

Forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate online site show conditions worsening in southern Maine and remaining unchanged for the rest of the state with lack of meaningful precipitation.

To read the rest of “Maine’s third summer of drought conditions could start to affect wells in the state,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Julia Bayly, please follow this link to the BDN online.