Droughts – Get prepared

Droughts can lead to:

• Lower levels of drinking water
• Loss of commercial, industrial, and agricultural production
• Decreased water quality and reduced hydroelectric production
• Dry conditions which can lead to respiratory illnesses
• Increases in food-borne, water-borne, and vector-borne (caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria) illnesses
• Increased risk of wildfires
• Less fish and wildlife habitat

How to prepare before a drought

Consider your water needs when you prepare for emergencies:

• Prepare your emergency kits. Learn more about what items to put in your kit, including quick and easy steps you can take right away
• Make a household emergency plan. Consider the specific needs of all members of your household, including older adults, children, pets, and anyone with special health needs
• Keep drinking water in your emergency kit. You may want to also keep water for pets, hygiene and cleaning
• If you have a farm, understand the amount of water you need and how to conserve water

Where to get information

Knowing where to get information on droughts in your area is another key part of staying prepared. Stay informed with these resources:

• The Canadian Drought Outlook includes maps that provide a monthly drought forecast
• The Canadian Drought Monitor is Canada's official source for the monitoring and reporting of drought in Canada
  • Get your drought rating based on a variety of federal, provincial, territorial, and regional data sources
  • Other resources and tools such as monthly or historic maps showing drought across Canada
• Check for provincial, territorial, or municipal information to help prepare for drought
• Stay informed about how drought may be increasing wildfire risk in your area

Conserving water

The following are best practices to consider in order to conserve water and help you and your community prevent or at least minimize the effects of drought, and prepare for it.

• Repair all leaks in taps and toilets
• Install low consumption toilets, dishwashers, shower heads, etc.
• Check for leaks in outdoor pipes, faucets, and hoses
• Consider installing rain barrels to collect rain water from the roof, which can be used to water gardens and flush toilets
• Choose drought-resistant trees and plants
• If you have a pool, use a water-saving pool filter
• Learn if drought may increase wildfire risk around your home

If you rely on a well for water

• Know the history of your well and understand your water needs
• Be aware of seasonal influences on water levels (e.g. monitor water levels early in spring and check levels throughout the summer to store water for potential drought conditions)
• Monitor rain gauges, well water and municipal notices regarding community water consumption

If you live on a farm

• Know the history of your well, understand your water needs, and how to conserve farm water
• Adopt practices that can help adapt dryland cropping systems for drought conditions, including adopting drought-tolerant crop varieties, no-till, and techniques for on-farm water conservation
• Check your irrigation systems regularly for leaks
• Learn more about water for agricultural production

During a drought

• Follow municipal water use restrictions (such as avoiding lawn watering or car washing)
• If permitted, use water in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation
• Wash only full loads of laundry or dishes
• Be aware of increased wildfire risk

After a drought

Following a drought, the ground can be hard, leading to more runoff. If vegetation has died off, the risk of runoff increases.

• If heavy precipitation falls within a short time, there is a risk of flooding
• There is a risk of slope instability and landslides
• Dried vegetation is also a wildfire risk