The lack of rainwater is lowering groundwater reserves, which has cascading effects such as sinking land and potential for fire
“Water resilience isn’t just an issue for the West and Southwest; even humid regions like New England are facing real risks to their water supplies as climate patterns shift,” says Farshid Vahedifard. Photo: Shutterstock
Recent reports of wells drying up in New Hampshire reflect a pattern we’re increasingly seeing across New England: extended dry periods and below-normal precipitation are stressing shallow groundwater systems that many homeowners depend on.
Unlike public water supplies, private wells are often shallow and directly connected to near-surface aquifers, making them more sensitive to short-term rainfall deficits and prolonged dry spells.
Climate variability is increasing the frequency and intensity of seasonal drought conditions in the Northeast, even if this region doesn’t experience the severe megadroughts seen in the western U.S. This means longer periods of low soil moisture and reduced recharge to groundwater. When aquifers recharge more slowly than they are drawn down, well yields can decline or fail altogether.
For communities and households reliant on well water, this trend highlights the need for greater monitoring of groundwater levels, diversification of water sources where feasible, and planning for drought resilience, including water conservation, shared backup supplies, and a better understanding of local hydrogeology.
It also highlights that water resilience isn’t just an issue for the West and Southwest; even humid regions like New England are facing real risks to their water supplies as climate patterns shift.
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Beyond immediate water-supply concerns, extended groundwater depletion has broader environmental and infrastructure implications that are often overlooked in New England. Sustained groundwater drawdown can contribute to land subsidence—the gradual sinking of the ground—subtly altering ground elevations and potentially affecting building foundations, roads, buried utilities, and drainage systems.
While subsidence is more commonly associated with arid regions, emerging evidence suggests it can also occur in humid regions under persistent groundwater stress, particularly where glacial sediments and compressible soils are present.
At the same time, prolonged dry periods increase the risk of wildfires, a hazard that remains underappreciated in the Northeast. Unlike the western U.S., the Northeast has a dense wildland-urban interface, aging infrastructure and the oldest inventory of buildings in the nation, and limited preparedness for fire-driven cascading impacts.
When drought, lowered groundwater, and extreme heat coincide, wildfire risk can rise rapidly, posing threats not only to ecosystems but also to homes, transportation networks, and public health.
Farshid Vahedifard is professor and Louis Berger Chair in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts University.
