Drought

Drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in its water supply. This can include atmospheric, surface water, or groundwater. In a twelve-month period if precipitation is less than 85% of normal as defined by the National Weather Service it is considered a drought. 44 inches is the average precipitation level per year in Maine.

  • Meteorological drought is when dry weather patterns dominate an area.
  • Hydrologic drought is when low water supply becomes evident in streams, reservoirs, and groundwater levels. Hydrologic drought indicators lag significantly behind meteorological drought indicators.
  • Agricultural drought is when precipitation deficits, soil water deficits, reduced ground water, or reduced reservoir levels impact agricultural yields.

Both the impacts and significance of drought depend on local conditions and the perspective of the stakeholder. It is uncommon for drought to significantly impact Maine because of typical precipitation levels, the state’s ground water hydrology, and a relatively low statewide demand for water compared to available resources. However, this does not mean that Maine is immune to water shortages.

The Palmer Drought Index is used for activating the Drought Emergency Plan. The Drought Severity Index (Palmer 1965) was developed to measure the departure of the moisture supply at specific locations. The objective of the Palmer Drought Index is to provide measurements of moisture conditions that were standardized so that comparisons using the index could be made between locations and between months. For additional information on drought see the National Integrated Drought Information System webpage.

Although Maine is considered a “wet” state, drought conditions typically occur about every decade. During late summer to early fall, these conditions can also lead to a very high forest fire threat. Go to the Wildfires section to learn more about fire threats and occurrences in Maine.

Slightly more than half of Maine residents are served by a public water district, the rest depend on private wells for their household water.

Private Well Owners

  • Disperse water usage throughout the day to allow for groundwater recharge.
  • Conserve water in your daily routine. Do not cut back on drinking water.

If your well runs dry

  • Do not dump foreign water in your well. The added water could contaminate your well with bacteria, viruses, heavy metals or stir up sediment resulting in illness and the water will likely leak out in a short period of time.
  • Contact a well driller to discuss options. Options include well replacement or lowering an existing well pump deeper into the water table.
  • For informational guidance on licensed well diggers in Maine go to the Well Driller's Commission webpage.

Public Water Supply Users

  • Save water when requested by the water utility. This will lessen the chance for subsequent mandatory water restrictions.
  • Conserve water in your daily routine. Do not cut back on drinking water.
  • Check your home for leaks.
  • Take voluntary and mandatory water conservation messages seriously

Sensible Water Use

If your water comes from a public water supply, the advice that comes from your water utility should always be your first guide to home water use. If you have a private well, over-withdrawal from your well can damage your pump and necessitate expensive repairs. In all cases, sensible water use is important to practice, especially during a drought. The following tips can help limit your water use.

General

  • Make sure your home is leak-free.
    • If you are on public water: When you are certain that no water is being used in your home, take a reading of the water meter. Wait 30 minutes and then take a second reading. If the meter reading changes, you have a leak!
    • If you have a well at home: Check your pump periodically. If the pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you have a leak.
  • Repair dripping faucets. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year!
  • Don't pour water down the drain: Use it to water your indoor plants or garden or flush the toilet.
  • Even out your use of water. If you have adequate water but not much more, this can help prevent a temporary shortage, and damage to your pump. Space out the family showers or do laundry late at night.

    Bathroom

    • Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If you have a leak, the color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. (Flush immediately to avoid stains.)
    • If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
    • Leaky toilets usually can be fixed inexpensively by replacing the flapper.
    • Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. (A brick should not be used because loose pieces can cause damage to the internal parts. Instead, place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow or purchase a device available at most hardware and home centers designed for this purpose.) Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.
    • Take shorter showers.
    • Replace your shower head with an ultra-low-flow version.
    • Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants or flushing the toilet.
    • In the shower, turn the water on to get wet; turn it off to lather up; then turn the water back on to rinse. Repeat when washing your hair.
    • Don't let the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving.
    • Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet to avoid flushing unnecessarily.

    Kitchen

    • Operate automatic dishwasher only when it is fully loaded. Use the "light wash" feature if available to use less water.
    • When hand washing dishes, save water by filling two containers, one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.
    • Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes do not have to be rinsed before washing. Just remove large particles of food and put the soiled dishes in the dishwasher.
    • Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.
    • Defrost meat or other frozen foods overnight in the refrigerator, or use the defrost setting on your microwave, rather than by using running water.
    • Heat water on the stove or in the microwave. If you have to run it to get hot, capture it for other uses such as plant watering.
    • Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap. Re-use the water that vegetables are washed in for cleaning or watering plants.
    • Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste or simply dispose of food in the garbage.
    • Consider use of disposable plates and cups to reduce water use.

    Laundry

    • Operate automatic clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of your load.
    • Consider washing your clothes at a laundromat.

    Long-Term Water Conservation

    • Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
    • Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models.
    • Consider installing an instant hot water heater on your sink
    • Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking if you have a sudden and unexpected spell of freezing weather.
    • Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation.
    • When purchasing a new appliance, choose one that is energy and water efficient, like a front-loading washing machine.

    Historic Droughts

    Maine experienced a drought for the first time in 14 years in the summer of 2016. A lack of snowfall during the winter of 2015-2016 and continued precipitation deficits during the year as well as higher-than-normal temperatures contributed to the drought conditions. By December 2016, 426 dry wells had been reported across the state and farmers were experiencing problems with irrigation and livestock feed.

    A drought from 1999-2002 caused 17,000 private wells to run dry in the 9 months prior to April 2002, and farmers lost more than 32 million dollars in crop production between 2001 and 2002 (1999-2002 USGS report, “Drought Conditions in Maine, 1999-2002: A Historical Perspective” (Lombard, 2002)). 

    2000-2003: According to a study by the Department and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Maine farmers lost over $32 million dollars because of the drought, causing to be the most damaging drought to date. Aroostook and Washington Counties were the hardest hit.

    Drought is the number one risk factor for the State’s agricultural economy, as it is the basis of over 1.2 billion dollars of food and fiber products annually. It employs 22,000 workers across the state, preserves a lifestyle for over 5,500 Maine families and provides stewardship of over 1.5 million acres of land and wildlife habitat. Since approximately 45% of the state’s population relies on dug or shallow wells, a prolonged drought period increases the risk of dry wells also. About 55% of the population relies on the public water system, which can also be affected.

    Since Maine is 90% forested, drought years tend to affect the whole state. Some of the most severe droughts happened in the late 1940s, mid-1960s and more recently during the 2001-2003 period. The U.S. Geological Survey has identified the following drought periods in Maine:

    • 1938-43
    • 1947-50
    • 1955-57
    • 1963-69
    • 1984-88
    • 2000-2003