The following information was supplied by the Vermont Department of Health and the United Way of Lamoille County.
Vermont is experiencing drought conditions across the state. Currently, 94% of Vermont is in a severe drought, while almost 24% of the state is in an extreme drought.
Among the many impacts of drought, the State of Vermont has been getting reports from Vermonters who rely on a private source of drinking water (wells and springs). An unprecedented number of Vermonters have reported water shortages (their water supply is unreliable) and outages (their water supply has run dry). Below are two videos to offer local information as well as an overview of what to do when a well runs dry.
Amid drought, property owners are coping with dry wells:
https://youtu.be/lWHqe5L0YVw?
What Can I Do When My Well Goes Dry? https://youtu.be/vKlH-krzeBM?
Find more information and resources at links below:
For general questions from people on private wells or springs, go to www.HealthVermont.gov/water/
For the current drought status and other resources, go to www.drought.vermont.gov
Videos/Resources on water supply shortages and drought conditions:
-
Submit water supply issues via the drought reporter
-
Temporary solutions for dry wells:
-
fill food-safe containers with water from a known safe source that is a tested water supply (for example, a community or municipal water system or a neighbor’s or family member’s home)
-
buy water from a bulk water hauler and filling up a water tank; do not fill wells or spring boxes with water delivered by a water hauler - it could seep into the surrounding soils and bedrock before you can use it and it is against state regulation.
-
-
buy bottled water.
-
hire a well driller to make well improvements, like lowering pumps, deepening existing wells, or drilling new wells
-
for financial assistance, low-cost financing options may be available to eligible homeowners for the repair or replacement of failed septic and/or water systems.
-
Roadside Springs:
-
not considered a safe source of water for drinking and cooking (or other ways of swallowing water)
-
are frequently contaminated by bacteria or other germs that can make people sick, which happened recently in New Hampshire
-
as a last resort during an emergency water outage, roadside springs may offer a temporary solution.
-
It is okay to use water from roadside springs for bathing, washing clothes, and flushing toilets: boil water for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, and making ice cubes, and concentrated juices
-
even after boiling there could be health risks, especially for infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
-
-