The Nova Scotia government has launched a data portal with information on ground and surface water resources to help residents prepare for water shortages caused by drought.
According to Environment Minister Timothy Halman, drought and water shortages remain a risk in the province due to climate change.
Halman says the data portal will help communities respond to their specific needs.
“Informed, collaborative and innovative action, however, can make our communities resilient to drought periods and water shortages,” says Halman in a release. “The data portal and this funding will help communities respond to their specific needs, helping to ensure Nova Scotians have reliable and sustainable access to water.”
Halman also announced a $6.3 million fund to support what he called water resiliency projects.
Applications for the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund will give priority to projects that address drought and water shortages, such as community wells, backup water systems and using nature to help manage water in a sustainable way.
Since launching in 2021, the fund has provided about $13 million for projects that help Nova Scotians respond to climate change.
Last year’s drought hit the province hard
An East Coast drought fuelled wildfires, dried up farmers’ fields and had homeowners scrambling to refill empty wells.
Nova Scotia, eastern Newfoundland, southeastern New Brunswick and portions of Prince Edward Island shifted into moderate to severe drought conditions in August 2025.
Rainfall has plummeted to roughly 60 per cent of normal levels in Halifax, with 270 millimetres falling from April to the end of July, compared to average levels of 460 mm for the same period, Agriculture Canada said.
“It looks to be one of the driest Augusts on record (to date) … preceded by one of the driest months of July to date,” Environment Canada forecaster Brian Proctor said at the time.
Trevor Hadwen, a specialist with Agriculture Canada, said that while the drought conditions aren’t unprecedented in the Atlantic region, 2025 was an “abnormally dry” year.
With files from The Canadian Press