Water Levels

[SkyRider]

Given the lack of snow this Winter and the lack of rain in the Spring and so far this Summer, are you guys seeing a drop in the water level in our lakes and rivers?

 

[kid_kuh]

Given the lack of snow this Winter and the lack of rain in the Spring and so far this Summer, are you guys seeing a drop in the water level in our lakes and rivers?

If you hadn't mentioned it I would not have given this question any thought. But theoretically speaking, aren't lakes and rivers connected to bigger bodies of water? So lots of rain fall or snow else where will just end up here. Nature balancing itself. I highly doubt there is much of a difference. But, hey, I am not an expert in this department.

 

[SkyRider]

If you hadn't mentioned it I would not have given this question any thought. But theoretically speaking, aren't lakes and rivers connected to bigger bodies of water? So lots of rain fall or snow else where will just end up here. Nature balancing itself. I highly doubt there is much of a difference. But, hey, I am not an expert in this department.

Maybe my imagination but the water level at our local beach seems to be a bit lower than normal this year. Also, doesn't the hotter than normal weather evaporate water from the lakes and rivers as well?

Any boat people, swimmers, fisher persons, lifeguards, mermaids, etc. on the Board noticing the same?

 

[whitewaterguy]

Yes indeed. The rivers feeding into the larger lakes are running dry. Water levels are well beyond typically low for this early in the summer

This has been depleting watersheds and rural residential water tables
The city of Belleville has activated a watering advisory and restrictions
The private water trucks are delivering water 24/7 to people in rural areas on wells and cisterns
When water trucks fill up at their city depot they must now provide details of who they are delivering water to. Farm and household use are priorities. Swimming pools will be shit out of luck soon for top ups
The mighty Moira river has almost completely dried out. The worst level in 25 years
I'm on a drilled well and it's touch and go. I actually had a water truck deliver 1000 litres for my back up cistern today
I also went to Honda Powersports today and purchased gas powered water transfer pump so I will be able to draw water from another river into barrels on my trailer , in order to water my livestock and garden veggies
It's going to be a nasty summer unless we get some serious downpours

My personal best efforts at conserving household water is increasing my visits to massage parlours and I calls with shower facilities. It's a necessity

 

[LeeHelm]

Maybe my imagination but the water level at our local beach seems to be a bit lower than normal this year. Also, doesn't the hotter than normal weather evaporate water from the lakes and rivers as well?

Any boat people, swimmers, fisher persons, lifeguards, mermaids, etc. on the Board noticing the same?

Did the lakes freeze over this year? No freezing leads to more evaporation during the winter.

 

[lomotil]

Did the lakes freeze over this year? No freezing leads to more evaporation during the winter.

Ice evaporates too, but at a slower rate which is called sublimation.

 

[Dougal Short]

The water in Georgian Bay is much higher than the past few years... at least a foot to 18". Earlier this season, it was even higher. Given the dry winter and spring and lack of ice cover, that's odd...

Having said that, the water levels in the Great Lakes are largely controlled. I read someplace that last summer, ships were having trouble navigating the St. Clair River due to a botched dredging job in previous years. Maybe the folks who run the dams are keeping it a big higher as a result.

I drove down from Tobermory the other day, and up north, there's lots of water in the ponds and creeks, but south of maybe Mount Forest, levels seems lower.

 

[SkyRider]

The good residents of Peel, Durham and York have been asked to conserve water.

http://www.newscaf.com/canada/gta-residents-and-businesses-urged-to-conserve-water-as_550282.html

 

[Submariner]

Check out this site run by NOAA. It is in interactive dashboard showing water levels in the Great Lakes. You will find all five lakes are currently higher than historical average, although the forecast is for Ontario to dip below average in a few months.

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/dashboard/GLWLD.html

With facilities regulated by the International Joint Commission, there is some control of the levels of Lake Ontario and Lake Superior, but there are no control structures at all on Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie.

 

[great bear]

A few years ago Georgian Bay was experiencing all time low levels. Now it is back near its historic highs. Had to change the dock at the lows and this spring had to change it again for the high water level.

 

[Ridgeman08]

Google Water Office and you can check for yourself...

River levels are definitely lower. It's cutting into my kayak season!

 

[whollycheeses]

The good residents of Peel, Durham and York have been asked to conserve water.

http://www.newscaf.com/canada/gta-residents-and-businesses-urged-to-conserve-water-as_550282.html

I would love for someone to explain how reducing INDOOR water usage in the GTA makes any difference. If we draw water from Lake Ontario, shower or flush toilets, then treat it and put it back into the same lake, net effect on water level is zero. Always has been.

For this reason I refuse the nonsense of low flow showers. In Nevada or Arizona, yes. In Toronto, no.

 

[Submariner]

I would love for someone to explain how reducing INDOOR water usage in the GTA makes any difference. If we draw water from Lake Ontario, shower or flush toilets, then treat it and put it back into the same lake, net effect on water level is zero. Always has been. For this reason I refuse the nonsense of low flow showers. In Nevada or Arizona, yes. In Toronto, no.

I agree that indoor use, treatment and return to the lakes should have negligible impact on lake levels. My guess is that public appeals to use less has more to do with approaching the limits of the water treatment plants to produce enough potable water when demand is highest. If the treatment plants can't keep up with demand, then any reduction in usage would be useful. Dammit, now you got me curious enough to try to find out capacity vs demand for Toronto's water treatment plants. Off to Google we go ....

 

[Submariner]

Dammit, now you got me curious enough to try to find out capacity vs demand for Toronto's water treatment plants. Off to Google we go ....

Answering my own question ....... looks like I am wrong. From an annual report for 2014, the Toronto system has a rated capacity of 950 million litres per day whereas the maximum daily demand was 643 million litres per day. A significant portion of treatment capacity would need to be unavailable to have demand exceed supply.

 

[SkyRider]

From an annual report for 2014, the Toronto system has a rated capacity of 950 million litres per day whereas the maximum daily demand was 643 million litres per day.

One concern would be a power failure as already happened briefly this morning. The extreme heat wave is putting lot of pressure on the grids.

 

[basketcase]

...
The city of Belleville has activated a watering advisory and restrictions ...

For cities on lakes like Belleville it is pretty meaningless. It has more to do with the treatment capacity and feeling good about yourself than the amount of available water. It's you well based people who it matters for.

Made a couple trips up north so far and water levels are fairly typical right now though I expect unless we get some significant rainfall it will be noticeably lower in August.

 

[wigglee]

It is a bit low but not much considering the lack of rain

 

[Big Sleazy]

It rained. Things are better now.