Drought threatens Moriah’s drinking water supply – Adirondack Explorer

Report on Water Scarcity and Sustainable Development Goal Implications in the Lake Champlain Region

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the impacts of severe and moderate drought conditions on communities along Lake Champlain, particularly in Essex and Clinton counties. The dry weather has critically affected drinking water supplies, prompting emergency measures and highlighting significant challenges to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The situation directly impacts SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by threatening water availability, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by testing municipal resilience, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by demonstrating the local consequences of climate-related hazards. Furthermore, associated risks like wildfires touch upon SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2.0 Drought Conditions and Climate Impact (SDG 13: Climate Action)

The region is experiencing a significant meteorological event that underscores the urgency of climate adaptation strategies as outlined in SDG 13. The National Weather Service has issued drought classifications, indicating a widespread environmental stressor.

• Drought Severity: Parts of Essex and Clinton counties are in a “severe drought,” with the remainder of the Adirondacks in a “moderate drought.”
• Precipitation Deficit: The weather station in Essex reports a precipitation deficit of 5.75 inches for the year. August rainfall was less than one inch, compared to a normal average of four inches.
• Lake Champlain Levels: On October 2, the lake level was recorded at 93.07 feet, approaching the record low of 92.31 feet set in 1941. This low level is a direct indicator of the drought’s severity.

3.0 Challenges to Water Security and Sanitation (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation)

The primary impact of the drought is on the availability and quality of drinking water, a fundamental component of SDG 6. Several towns are facing operational challenges in ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for their residents.

1. Town of Moriah: The town’s primary reservoir, Bartlett Pond, is reported as “crucially low.” The water level is only three feet above the intake pump, compared to a typical level of five to seven feet. This poses a significant risk for winter operations, as ice formation could impede the ability to draw water.
2. Town of Essex: A temporary water filtration plant is struggling to meet demand. Its intake is close to the shoreline, and low lake levels mean it is drawing dirtier surface water, necessitating a water ban.
3. Town of Willsboro: Low water levels in Lake Champlain have triggered emergency shut-offs at the water treatment plant, requiring operational adjustments to maintain service.

4.0 Community Resilience and Infrastructure Adaptation (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

In response to the crisis, local governments are implementing measures to build resilience and adapt infrastructure, in line with the objectives of SDG 11 to make communities safe, resilient, and sustainable.

3.1 Town of Moriah: Emergency Response

• A state of emergency has been declared, and all nonessential water usage is banned.
• Officials are seeking approval from the state Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation to supplement the reservoir with water from a nearby mine.
• The fire department has adapted its procedures, using water from Lake Champlain for certain fires to conserve the municipal supply.

3.2 Town of Essex: Infrastructure Upgrade

• While currently reliant on a challenged temporary system, the town is nearing completion of a new, permanent water filtration plant.
• This new infrastructure represents a significant long-term investment in water security, featuring an intake pipe extending 250 feet into the lake at a depth of 50 feet, which will ensure access to a cleaner, more reliable water source regardless of low lake levels.

4.0 Ecosystem Protection and Related Measures (SDG 15: Life on Land)

The dry conditions have increased the risk of wildfires, threatening terrestrial ecosystems and prompting preventative actions that align with the goals of SDG 15.

• The Department of Environmental Conservation has designated the Adirondacks as a high-risk area for fires.
• A burn ban was instituted in Essex County and subsequently expanded to a temporary statewide ban to mitigate fire risk and protect natural habitats.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues discussed in the article, primarily focusing on water scarcity due to drought and its impact on local communities, are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most central SDG, as the article revolves around the challenges towns face in maintaining a safe and sufficient drinking water supply due to drought conditions.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article highlights how a natural disaster (drought) affects human settlements, their infrastructure (water plants, reservoirs), and the need for resilient planning and emergency response.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article discusses a “severe drought” and abnormally dry conditions, which are climate-related hazards. The responses of the towns represent adaptation and resilience-building efforts in the face of such events.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • The article details the struggle of the town of Moriah, where the water supply is “crucially low,” threatening the continuous access to drinking water for its residents. The town’s effort to supplement its reservoir with tested water from a mine is a direct attempt to maintain this access.
2. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals to address water scarcity.
   • Moriah’s declaration of a state of emergency and the ban on “all nonessential water usage,” such as washing cars and using sprinklers, are direct measures to increase water-use efficiency and manage demand during a period of severe scarcity.
3. Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters.
   • The drought is presented as a water-related disaster impacting several towns. The article describes the effects on the population, such as water bans and the declaration of a “state of emergency,” and the measures taken to mitigate the impact, like modifying fire department protocols to conserve treated water.
4. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • The actions taken by the towns demonstrate efforts to strengthen resilience. This includes Moriah’s contingency plan to pump water from a mine, Essex’s installation of a new, more reliable water filtration plant, and Willsboro’s adjustment of its water system’s emergency thresholds to prevent unnecessary shut-offs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the situation and the progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 6.4 (Level of water stress): The article provides specific data points that measure water stress.
  • The water level in Moriah’s reservoir is “only about 3 feet above” the intake pump, compared to the typical “5 to 7 feet.”
  • The water level of Lake Champlain was measured at “93.07 feet,” noted as being “very low” and close to historic lows for the date.
  • The precipitation deficit for the year is “5.75 inches,” with less than an inch of rain in August against a normal of four inches.
• Indicator for Target 11.5 (Adoption of disaster risk reduction strategies): The implementation of specific policies and emergency measures serves as an indicator.
  • The declaration of a “state of emergency” in Moriah.
  • The implementation of a town-wide ban on nonessential water use.
  • The issuance of a county-wide and then a “statewide burn ban” due to high fire risk, which is a direct consequence of the drought.
• Indicator for Target 13.1 (Strengthening adaptive capacity): The proactive measures and infrastructure upgrades are indicators of increased adaptive capacity.
  • The plan to test and potentially use water from a mine shaft as an alternative source.
  • The construction of a “permanent water filtration plant” in Essex with a deeper and more reliable intake pipe to “weather the storm” of low lake levels.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: adirondackexplorer.org