Climate Change and Well Supply Impacts: Discussion Hosted by Rural Water Watch

Rural Water Watch is a Nova Scotia based charity with the goal of bringing awareness to the importance of regular well water testing. RWW recently hosted a discussion on the impacts that climate change will have on rural water well supplies.

The panel discussion (co-hosted by Fred Bonner and Courtney Bonner of Rural Water Watch) included short presentations by Dr. Barret Kurylyk (associate professor at Dalhousie University and Canada Research Chair in Coastal Water Resources) and Gavin Kennedy (a hydrogeologist with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables).

This discussion highlights the vulnerability of Canada’s groundwater systems, especially shallow aquifer and coastal aquifer systems, to changes in atmospheric and oceanic inputs. Climate changes expected in the maritime region include increases in summer temperature, increased streamflow in the spring with lower flows in the summer months, more intense storms/precipitation events and rising sea levels. All together, these changes are likely to result in more dry wells (especially during the summer months), more surface flooding with the potential to contaminant water wells, and saltwater intrusion (wherein movement of the salt/freshwater interface causing increased salinity in supply wells).

We’re glad these discussions are being hosted by organizations across Canada (and the world) and we hope the Canada 1 Water initiative might play a key part in future research into these impacts.

Watch the discussion below and visit the Rural Water Watch website for more information about this organization dedicated to the protection and management of rural water supplies: https://www.ruralwaterwatch.org/about-us