Nova ScotiaScott Parker, who lives with his family just outside Shelburne, says there is less water in his well now than there was this time last week, even with the most recent rain.Scott Parker worries what will happen as colder weather moves in Preston Mulligan · CBC News · Posted: Nov 03, 2025 4:07 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesOne Shelburne-area resident says the most recent rainfall did nothing to increase his well’s water supply. (wk1003mike / Shutterstock)As the drought continues along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, one homeowner fears he and his family will still be without water by the time winter settles in.Scott Parker lives just outside Shelburne and said there is less water in his well now than there was this time last week, even with the most recent rain.”It’s actually gotten continuously worse,” he said. Parker, along with his wife and two young children, rely on municipal vouchers to get drinking water at the local Sobeys. They visit the local fire department for non-potable water, and they go to the Shelburne County Arena to shower.The Municipality of the District of Shelburne said in a Facebook post on Oct. 27 the arena will welcome those who need showers Mondays to Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays from 4-9 p.m.; and Sundays from 4-6 p.m. Parker said he visited the arena on Sunday but there was no one there to let him in. The Municipality of the District of Shelburne is considering a program to finance loans to homeowners like Parker to help them cover the cost of digging deeper, more reliable wells. Staff has recommended against the idea, however, saying it exposes both the homeowners and the municipality to unnecessary financial risk. Instead, it suggests council leave such loan programs to private lenders.What worries Parker most right now is what might happen if the ground freezes before any significant rainfall.”That’s terrifying with two young children and being unable to shower, take baths, flush the toilets. That’s a nightmare,” he said. “And I really am dreading that reality, if it comes.”He said he’s also worried that vital information about the drought isn’t reaching the area’s elderly residents. “Someone should be going door to door. Something needs to be done to let people know where they could shower, when they can get water, and what resources are available,” said Parker.”My 80-year-old neighbour had no idea that they were giving out [water] vouchers because he wasn’t on their Facebook page as he doesn’t use Facebook.”MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORPreston Mulligan has been a reporter in the Maritimes for more than 20 years. Along with his reporting gig, he also hosts CBC Radio’s Sunday phone-in show, Maritime Connection.
Shelburne drought ‘continuously worse’ despite recent rainfall, says homeowner
