Drought leaves Nova Scotia well owners in shock
A Port Maitland, N.S., couple shares their harrowing experience of living through a severe drought that left their well nearly empty. We visited the home where every drop of water became sacred over this past, dry summer
A recent deluge of November rain means it’s now safe for Ilonka Venier Alexander to run the water at her home in Port Maitland, N.S.
She isn’t connected to a municipal water source, and drought conditions over the summer months meant conserving every drop of water available.
Her husband, Graham, has been busy setting up rain barrels in the backyard.
“I think our rain collection system has improved quite a bit," said Graham.
“I know that, but I’m just continuing to be nervous," said Ilonka.
Graham rigged up a system using a long line to get measurements and monitor how much water is in the well.
Ilonka says the experience of going without water was worse than not having power.
Nova Scotia drought in November 2025. (Nathan Coleman/The Weather Network)
“You can’t take a pill, you can’t wash a dish or you can’t go and make a cup of coffee, and you can’t take a shower. And planning for those things then becomes part of your every day like what is today," said Ilonka.
She would send her husband out to measure every day, so the constant vigilance took a toll.
“If I heard him turn on the tap, I would say, 'what are you doing?'”
She still brings a bucket into the shower to conserve water.
For now, she can breathe a sigh of relief, but memories of the drought of 2025 will be difficult to forget.
“I think that climate change is real. These things are going to happen again at some point in the future, and that the government needs to take a major role in trying to solve it for people.”