If anyone is looking to see how dry August has been, look at the gardens or front lawns. That is because despite some recent rains, Midcoast Maine is still in a drought.
The midcoast has seen worse droughts in the recent past, however. Maine Water confirms they are not concerned about the Mirror Lake water facility.
The years 2001 and 2003 were particularly dry, with almost less rainfall than this August. In 2001, the annual rainfall in the midcoast was 34.19 inches, and in 2003 that number was 38.25 inches.
Currently, most parts of Maine are classified as drought areas. Some areas, like the midcoast, are a mild drought, classified as D1. Many areas in northern Maine are in a D2 category, otherwise known as a severe drought.
Bill Lombardi, who runs San e Felici Farms, said he has “absolutely” seen effects of the drought on his crops.
Lombardi has set up a drip irrigation system to water his plants, which he says helps to maintain the plants, but does not allow them to thrive.
Lombardi said some crops, such as beans, are currently at half production.
He said his peppers have done well, as they do not require as much water. His cucumbers are also doing well, but their growth is beginning to slow.
“I usually have a good crop of butternut squash,” said Lombardi. This year, they are small and late.
Lombardi added that the rain has helped, but only a little.
While midcoast residents with city water are able to keep their plants alive, those with wells may be worried. A dry month may lead well owners to worry about the well drying up in these conditions.
However, Warren Haskell of Haskell Wells said such fears are unfounded, unless well-owners have a hand-dug well.
“These droughts don’t bother the drilled wells, but the hand-dug wells do,” Haskell said.
Haskell said most new wells are drilled, and those who make them are knowledgeable enough to leave customers with a well that will not dry up.
“People who aren’t aware might be concerned,” he added, "but that concern is not necessary."
Haskell said a drilled well pumps out a certain amount of water per hour. If the water is used up before the pump refills, the well can appear dry. However, if the well owner waits a few hours, the well will operate normally again.
Haskell said most people with hand-dug wells are aware of the danger, and have to be careful each August that the well will not run dry. For those with a drilled well, “there is plenty of water for normal use.”
Rick Knowlton, the president of Maine Water Company, said the company is not worried about their Mirror Lake facility, which provides water to most of Knox County with a public water supply. While six or nine months of little rainfall would cause concern for the facility, that has not been the case for the month of August.
“Water utilities tend to take a longer view than most drought monitors,” said Knowlton.
Knowlton said most of the drought monitoring is done at the surface level, which has an effect on agriculture. The Mirror Lake facility monitors rainfall at their location and reports it to the National Weather Service.
“The first five months of precipitation this year was actually above average, especially April,” said Knowlton. Water levels at Mirror Lake are not concerning, but he said the company suggests water-saving measures such as using a dishwasher and not leaving the faucet running while brushing teeth.
Knowlton added that for the month of August, there has been a total of almost 34 inches of rain, which is almost the same amount of rain in all of 2001. At this point in the year,the total annual rainfall, while not including August, is 33.06 inches.
The Link LonkAugust 28, 2020 at 12:54AM
https://knox.villagesoup.com/p/drought-conditions-mean-dry-plants-not-dry-houses/1868603
Drought conditions mean dry plants, not dry houses - By Christine Simmonds - Courier-Gazette & Camden Herald
https://news.google.com/search?q=dry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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