Residents asked use less water as drought conditions persist across capital region

Conversation authorities around Ottawa, including in the Rideau and Mississippi valleys, as well as in the City of Gatineau, are all asking residents start conserving water as minor drought conditions continue.

Ottawa River Water Resources Engineer Michael Sarich tells CityNews, Thursday, June 10, with more hot and sunny weather forecast for the coming weeks, it's difficult to know when water levels will get back to normal.

“Localized rainfall on one sub-basin and it'll improve conditions locally, but not really have a large impact on the river,” explains Sarich. “So it's going to require some significant precipitation over a fairly widespread area to really turn things around at this point.”

Sarich says local authorities expected water levels to be low this year after a quick snow melt, in which most of it evaporated. 

“At this point, we're looking at it being an ongoing or perhaps extended period of low water.”