Nova Scotia Couple Drills New $20,000 Well as 200-Year-Old Dug Well Runs Dry

As a severe drought gripped Nova Scotia, a couple in Baxters Harbour found themselves in a challenging situation. For the first time in 200 years, the dug well on their property had run dry. With no end to the drought in sight, Nancy Grove and Peter Gale were forced to weigh their options: wait out the dry spell or spend around $20,000 to have a new, drilled well installed.

Like many other residents in the area, the couple had to rely on water pickups from the local community center and the generosity of a neighbor with a drilled well, who allowed them to run a hose between their properties to get some water into their home. However, with winter approaching and the risk of the hose freezing, they knew this temporary solution was not sustainable.

Ultimately, Grove and her husband, a carpenter, decided that investing in the 91-meter-deep drilled well was the best course of action, even though it meant dipping into their savings. They were saddened to retire the old well, which had served the community for generations, but recognized it as a necessary step to ensure they had a reliable water source, especially if similar droughts occur in the future.

According to experts, while drilled wells are generally more reliable than dug wells during drought conditions, Nova Scotians should carefully consider factors such as cost and the property's geology before deciding to drill a new well. The province has resources available to help residents navigate this process and explore alternative water sources, such as accessing community wells or drawing from nearby ponds or rivers.