Drought and water shortages

Drought is an emerging climate risk in Nova Scotia. While the province is often known for its abundant water, changing weather patterns and rising temperatures mean that water can become scarce for longer periods of time.

The Nova Scotia 2025 Climate Change Risk Assessment (PDF) identifies drought as a growing concern for communities across Nova Scotia, highlighting it as a key climate hazard affecting the wellbeing of Nova Scotians. As the climate continues to change with higher temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, low water levels and drought are expected to become more common and an important issue across the province.

Understanding these risks is the first step toward taking action. By planning ahead and using water wisely, Nova Scotians can reduce the impacts of drought and build stronger, more resilient communities.

Information and resources are available to help:

Preparing for drought

During a water shortage, everyone should do their part to conserve water (PDF) and make sure drinking water is safe.

Well owners

If you rely on a private well:

Farmers

The Department of Agriculture has regional staff who provide advice about programs and services, including how to access funding supports.

Access contact information on the regional services webpage or call toll-free 1-800-279-0825 for the staff contact in your area.

Water resource conditions

Learn more about water levels and conditions across Nova Scotia:

Other drought mapping resources:

  • Canadian Drought Monitor (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada): Canada's official source for the monitoring and reporting of drought nationally. From this page you can access a variety of monthly products and information about current drought conditions across the country
  • climatedata.ca: provides high-quality climate data and resources to help Canadians make decisions in a changing climate

Understanding drought in Nova Scotia

The province monitors water levels using a coordinated network of surface water, groundwater and supporting climate data systems that together track water availability across the province.

Surface water is monitored through 39 hydrometric stations that measure river levels and flow, providing timely insight into changing conditions and early signs of low water levels.

Groundwater is tracked through the Groundwater Observation Well Network (GOWN), which includes 40 observation wells that measure water levels daily and reflect longer-term water storage and drought conditions.

Together, these systems capture both short-term changes in rivers and longer-term trends in groundwater, supporting a comprehensive understanding of drought development and recovery. Both are closely influenced by precipitation and temperature, linking hydrologic conditions directly to climate patterns.

Impacts of low water levels and drought

Water shortages and drought conditions can affect many parts of everyday life in Nova Scotia.

  • water supply and availability - lower water levels in lakes, rivers and wells increase the likelihood of water shortages for homes, communities and businesses
  • ecosystems and wildlife – dry conditions can stress wetlands and rivers, reduce water quality and harm fish, plants and wildlife that depend on stable water levels
  • wildfire conditions – hot, dry weather increases the chance of wildfires, which can threaten public safety, homes and natural areas
  • agriculture and food – low water levels and drought can reduce crop yields, stress livestock and affect food production across the province
  • communities – water shortages and heat can strain water systems and make it harder for communities to maintain reliable services
  • health and well-being – drought conditions often happen during hot weather, increasing heat-related health risks and adding stress for affected communities
  • economic impacts – drought can increase costs and disrupt industries like agriculture, forestry, tourism and hospitality, and manufacturing that rely on water

Resources

Related information