July 30 2025 / By CEWF
We are experiencing significant rates of drawdown on the reservoir lakes, and in many cases, these reduced levels are several weeks ahead of normal. The TSW Water Management Team has reduced the flows downstream in the system to reduce the demand from the reservoirs however, the reservoir drawdown rate remains significant.
This means that property owners need to monitor their water levels to ensure water supply lines, docks and boat access are adjusted as they would normally be later in the summer.
The reason for the earlier-than-normal reductions is the lack of rain:
– there hasn’t been any significant rainfall in the Trent Basin in almost two months now;
– very warm temperatures have resulted in significant evaporation from all lakes; and
– the weather forecast remains clear and dry.
All of this means there’s a significant demand for our reservoir water to maintain levels and minimum flows in the Waterway. This not only includes canal operations, but also the Peterborough municipal water supply and sewage outflow dilution systems. The canal system is already operating at minimum flows.
Hopefully, we’ll begin to see increased rainfall as temperatures drop though August, as that will allow the TSW to reduce the drawdown and let lake levels return to closer to normal levels. Meanwhile, it’s important that property owners monitor the situation and adjust their shoreline actions accordingly.
The TSW produces a Drawdown Forecast weekly for all sections of the TSW including each of the reservoir lakes. This is usually posted on the CEWF Website on a Tuesday [click here]. CEWF will continue to liaise with TSW and post the most up to date information. Please consider [subscribing] to these alerts so that the latest information on lake levels comes straight to your Inbox.