By Alison Chave

After a summer of parched wells, and shrinking ponds and lakes, recent rains have brought some relief to our region. Streams are filling again, but this reprieve should not fool us. The Townships are heading toward a water-supply problem—and we must act now to protect the resource that sustains our communities, farms, gardens and way of life.

The drought that gripped most of Québec and our own Yamaska watershed this summer was one of the worst in a decade. Rivers feeding Brome Lake slowed to a trickle; by late October, measurement at the Provincial Government’s hydrometric station located at Douglass Beach revealed that the lake’s water level was 30 centimetres below normal, and flow had dropped to nearly half its usual rate. Wells ran dry in parts of West Bolton and other rural areas, while blue-green algae bloomed in overheated shallows.

Even as rainfall restores what was lost, the message is clear: we cannot take water for granted. Climate change, combined with rising demand from development and use, means our local water supply is increasingly fragile. Protecting it requires effort from both citizens and municipalities.

What Homeowners Can Do

Homeowners can make a difference by maintaining septic systems, avoiding use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and conserving water indoors and out.

What Municipalities Can Do

Towns can do their part by fixing leaks, managing development carefully, offering incentives for water-saving equipment, and planning infrastructure that captures and stores rainwater for dry periods.

Every drop counts, and every action matters. The summer’s drought was not an isolated event— it was a warning. If we learn from it, we can build a more resilient future where clean, abundant water continues to flow through our lakes, streams, and taps.

The time to protect our water is now.