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PEI farm group pushes to lift deep well moratorium

February 5, 2014, Charlottetown, PEI – A recommendation to lift the current moratorium on deep-water wells is headed to the provincial government following unanimous support by the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture.

The resolution passed in a closed-door session last week will seek the removal of a 10-year-old moratorium on deep-water wells for agricultural irrigation.

The two-part resolution also stipulates the removal be based on quality science and a significant water management program to monitor the resource.

Controversy has spiked over the issue of providing permits to farmers who are seeking supplemental irrigation wells to make up for a lack of summer rainfall.

Last year, a lack of rainfall in the central areas of the province hit a rage of produce from carrots to potatoes and farmers say opportunities to irrigate during the dry spells would have prevented crop loss.

The federation’s annual meeting heard from provincial watershed manager Bruce Raymond, who says there is ample water supply on P.E.I. and adequate recharge rates as well.