Climate Change and Water

This year most of Manitoba has experienced higher summer temperatures, reduced precipitation (snow cover and rain) and experienced surface drought conditions. Even though we can’t see our water source, our aquifers have also lowered water levels which unfortunately resulted in many of Springfield’s private wells experiencing poorer water-quality and lack-of-water issues. 

Climate change and it’s impact

  1. WATER. There will be lower summer streamflows, falling lake levels, retreating Rocky Mountain glaciers and declining soil moisture. Less water will be stored as winter snow and ice – which has historically been a reliable source of ground water. Our aquifers will be unable to recharge themselves to maintain an adequate water supply. Water scarcity will potentially limit our population growth.
  2. Extreme EVENTS. Within the framework of an environment that is tracking warmer and drier, there will be more flood events, severe storms, and climate extremes.
  3. DROUGHTS of extreme severity or long duration are an increasing threat to our community piped water and residential well drawing water from the aquifer.
  4. SUMMERS will be especially dry. Dryer soil conditions and declining levels of available water to recharge our aquifers will be more the norm and will gain more significance as hot-weather droughts continue as the norm.

Excerpts are from PARC a provincial/federal think tank on global warming.