The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #80, featuring a photo of guest Tom DeBell; and a quote from Tom: "The drought last summer was, by any measure that we could look back in the record and see, the most severe we've experienced. That August was the driest month Vermont had ever had, going back to 1895. Unlike other droughts, this developed really quickly. ".
Posted on by lvschul2@illinois.edu

TT080 – What We Can Learn from Vermont’s Flash Drought

For the 80th episode of Tap Talk, we are pleased to talk with Tom DeBell, an environmental health engineer at the Vermont Department of Health. Tom tells Steve and Jennifer about the intense flash drought that Vermont (and other northeastern states) experienced in the summer of 2025, particularly how the drought impacted private well users in the state. They also discuss the steps that the health department took to help well owners maintain their wells and educate the public on obtaining adequate water supplies during the water crisis.

Topics Discussed

  • Meet Tom DeBell | LinkedIn
  • Tom’s Water Hero: Evan Thomas, Engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder
  • Vermont’s 2025 drought: How severe was it, how much has the situation improved?
  • What is a flash drought?
  • The prevalence and different types of private water wells/supplies that Vermonters rely on
  • How did the drought affect Vermont’s private wells?
  • What were the broader impacts on well owners?
  • The public health concern of people using water from natural springs
  • Messaging and coordination around the use of these alternate water sources
  • Which populations were hit the hardest?
  • How does drought compare to other natural disasters like floods or storms in terms of impacts on private water supplies?
  • Biggest lessons from experiencing this drought
  • Connect with the Vermont Department of Health


“The drought last summer was, by any measure that we could look back in the record and see, the most severe we’ve experienced. That August was the driest month Vermont had ever had, going back to 1895. Unlike other droughts, this developed really quickly.”

Tom DeBell

Go Further

You’re invited to discuss the episode in our LinkedIn Group. If you decide to share on Twitter, please use the hashtag #TapTalkPodcast. And, of course, make sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Guest

Tom DeBell is an environmental health engineer at the Vermont Department of Health. In this role, he uses his background in research, engineering, and aquatic chemistry to serve the Vermont public’s interests in shared water resources. Tom holds a BS in Ecological Engineering from Oregon State University and a MS in Biological Engineering (Water Resources) from North Carolina State University.