The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) has announced a significant improvement in local water conditions, officially downgrading its low-water advisory from a severe Level 3 to a moderate Level 2 status. This change, reported on Friday, November 21, 2025, comes as a relief after nearly three months under the most serious water shortage designation.
From Severe to Moderate: Understanding the Downgrade
The shift to a Level 2 low-water status indicates a potentially serious problem still exists, but the situation is no longer critical. This level is the second of three possible advisories the conservation authority can issue. The MVCA continues to encourage all residents to avoid using water for non-essential purposes and to implement water-saving measures.
The decision to downgrade follows a period of increased precipitation over the past 90 days. According to the MVCA, rainfall and snowfall have helped precipitation indicators considerably improve throughout the Mississippi Valley watershed. Data shows that precipitation has recovered more than 80 per cent of the long-term seasonal average over the last three months.
Precipitation Data Shows Promising Recovery
The recovery has been particularly strong in the last 30 days, where precipitation has reached 100 per cent of the seasonal norm. This positive trend was supported by Environment Canada's report of an above-average October in the nation's capital. The Ottawa International Airport recorded around 141 millimetres of precipitation, significantly higher than the October average of 87.4 millimetres.
However, the authority noted that conditions vary across the watershed. In the upper Mississippi region, precipitation remains below average at approximately 60 per cent for the past 90 days and only 40 per cent for the past 30 days.
Continued Conservation Efforts Required
Despite the improved status, the MVCA is still urging residents to use water conservatively. The conservation authority had been under a Level 3 low-water status since September 24 and has been under a low-water alert since August 11.
Under the current Level 2 status, the MVCA is asking all water users not connected to the City of Ottawa's municipal distribution network to reduce their water consumption by 20 per cent. Recommended conservation measures include:
- Using rain barrels to water lawns and gardens
- Avoiding the use of pressure washers
- Limiting all non-essential water use
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority serves regions in rural west-end Ottawa from South March to as far north as Constance Bay. Its boundaries also include Almonte, Carleton Place, and extend west to Bon Echo.
Residents of Marathon Village, located just outside of Carp within the MVCA area, have reported that despite the increased rainfall, private wells are still running dry in their community, highlighting the ongoing challenges in some localized areas.
