Drought in Maine

Dry periods are becoming more frequent in Maine, with some parts of the state experiencing unusually dry or drought conditions almost annually. To help Public Water Systems maintain service and quality, the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program (DWP) continues to provide updates and resources on the drought situation.

Alerts & Updates

• (9/5/2025) Drought Conditions in Maine. Guidance and resources for public water systems facing drought conditions.
• (8/9/2022) Water Conservation Measures. Water conservation ideas for public water systems experiencing drought-related issues.
• (6/1/2021) Drought Preparedness for Public Water Systems. Drought preparedness steps and tips to aid systems in preparing for potential drought-related issues.
• (10/16/2020) Drought Response Checklist. Potential drought response actions for water systems experiencing a water shortage or outage.
• (8/20/2020) Voluntary Water Conservation Measures. Voluntary water conservation ideas for public water suppliers to share with customers during periods of drought.
• (8/4/2020) Water Conservation Resources. Resources to assist public water systems in navigating drought-related issues.
• (6/30/2020) Drought Preparedness Resources for Public Water Systems. Additional resources and guidance to help prepare for potential impacts to water system operations.

Drought / Precipitation Maps of Maine and New England

Updated weekly.

Source: NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC. U.S. Drought Monitor

Source: US Department of Commerce, NOAA/National Weather Service - Northeast River Forecast Center   
NERFC Precipitation Totals and Departures from Normal

Dry Wells

The Maine Drinking Water Program does not recommend adding water to a dry drinking water well.  This is often ineffective, can introduce contaminants, and can cause damage to the well and/or well pump. Instead, bottled water or cistern systems should be considered for temporary emergency water supply. For more information on bulk water, please see our resource page on Bulk Water Haulers. Please consider reporting your dry well to the Maine Geological Survey.

Additional Resources

• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
  • Incident Action Checklist -- Drought (PDF)
  • Drought & WaterSense
• Maine CDC Drinking Water Program:
  • Emergency Response Resources -- Hurricanes, Droughts, and Other Extreme
  • Weather Events
  • Drought Contingency Guidance for Public Water Systems (March 2013) PDF)
  • Preparing, Responding, and Recovering From a Drought (PDF)
  • Maine Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (MEWARN)