Drought Resources

Maine Emergency Management Agency has prepared a survey to report dry wells and guide individuals toward available opportunities for assistance if and when they become available. Citizens with dry wells are encouraged to report them here, or by calling 2-1-1. Please note: Reporting a dry well does not guarantee that aid will be provided or that aid is available. This is for information gathering only.

Information provided by the National Integrated Drought Information System

Note: this system is only operational during Maine’s wildfire season between late March and late November.

Annual wildfire locations and causes

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension addresses agricultural questions and concerns specific to worsening drought conditions in Maine.

A drought is a prolonged period without rain, specifically a twelve month period during which precipitation is less than 85% of normal as defined by the National Weather Service; 44 inches is the average precipitation level per year for Maine.

Drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in its water supply. This can include atmospheric, surface water, or groundwater.

A weekly drought monitor is produced jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Slightly more than half of Maine residents are served by a public water district, the rest depend on private wells for their household water.

Resources to contact during a water shortage

If your water comes from a public water supply, the advice that comes from your water utility should always be your first guide to home water use.If you have a private well, often you are as much concerned with avoiding a temporary over-withdrawal from your well, which can damage your pump and necessitate expensive repairs.