Well digger finds some Nova Scotians 'in dire straits' as drought drags on

A Nova Scotia business owner says he's seeing an unprecedented level of demand for his well-drilling services following a dry summer in the province.

Arthur Jefferson runs DJ's Well Drilling, drilling wells some of which can get deeper than 400 feet across Nova Scotia.

He told CBC's Information Morning on Fridaythat although business picks up every summer, demand for drilled wells hit an all-time high for his company in July, and hasn't dropped off since.

"It's been overwhelming, to say the least,"he said.

Hard to keep pace

In a normal summer, Jefferson said his company would drill five days a week, putting in about three wells.

Since July, Jefferson said they've been working six days a week five of those drilling, with another day spent inspecting job sites drilling between five and eight wells, and often using the lights on their rig to extend the working day.

Even at that pace, Jefferson said it's hard to keep up with demand.

"We're doing 70 to 75 hours a week just trying to squeeze every last [one] in so that we can gain some headway," he said.

Wells completely dry

Jefferson said he and his crew were being approached while on job sites by other property owners seeking drilled wells because their dug wells had run dry.

At one job site, Jeffersonopened the cover on a dug well and found it sodry the bottom had cracked.Once a well is that dry, any water poured into it will seep into the ground becauseno water pressure keepsthe water in place.

Some people have recognized this, said Jefferson,and that's why they're seeking his services.

Jefferson said even if this year's dry conditions don't represent a new normal, it's important homeowners have a contingency plan in place for when a drought does hit.

'Fights breaking out'

As for this year, Jefferson estimates it could take at least a week of steady rain for conditions to return to normal.

If that rain doesn't come before winter, whendrilling becomes more expensive, he said the situation could get more complicated.

"People are in dire straits,"he said. "We just heard stories last night in theShelburne area of fights breaking out at laundromats, people lining up at the fire hall for water, people butting in line."

He said he worries that when winter starts, "the more panic you're going to see."