Dry periods are becoming more frequent in Maine, with some parts of the state experiencing unusually dry or drought conditions almost annually. To help Public Water Systems maintain service and quality, the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program (DWP) continues to provide updates and resources on the drought situation.
Alerts & Updates
- (8/9/2022) Water Conservation Measures. Water conservation ideas for public water systems experiencing drought-related issues.
- (6/1/2021) Drought Preparedness for Public Water Systems. Drought preparedness steps and tips to aid systems in preparing for potential drought-related issues.
- (10/16/2020) Drought Response Checklist. Potential drought response actions for water systems experiencing a water shortage or outage.
- (8/20/2020) Voluntary Water Conservation Measures. Voluntary water conservation ideas for public water suppliers to share with customers during periods of drought.
- (8/4/2020) Water Conservation Resources. Resources to assist public water systems in navigating drought-related issues.
- (6/30/2020) Drought Preparedness Resources for Public Water Systems. Additional resources and guidance to help prepare for potential impacts to water system operations.
Drought / Precipitation Maps of Maine and New England
Updated weekly.
Source: NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC. U.S. Drought Monitor
Source: US Department of Commerce, NOAA/National Weather Service - Northeast River Forecast Center
NERFC Precipitation Totals and Departures from Normal
Additional Resources
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
- Incident Action Checklist -- Drought (PDF)
- Drought & WaterSense
- Maine CDC Drinking Water Program:
- Emergency Response Resources -- Hurricanes, Droughts, and Other Extreme
- Weather Events
- Drought Contingency Guidance for Public Water Systems (March 2013) PDF)
- Preparing, Responding, and Recovering From a Drought (PDF)
- Maine Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (MEWARN)