South Florida is seeing little rain during its rainy season this year.
Eastern Miami-Dade and Broward counties are drying up and are now considered to be in extreme drought conditions, according to water managers.
So far this year, Miami-Dade was 7 inches below average rainfall and Broward was down more than 8 inches.
The conditions have sparked brush fires and threatened drinking water supply.
“We rely on rainfall for our surface and groundwater supplies,” says Randy Smith, spokesperson for South Florida Water Management District.
Listen to our interview with Randy Smith, spokesperson for South Florida Water Management District.
Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay are getting saltier, which could bring more salt into the Biscayne Aquifer – where most of South Florida gets its drinking water.
Broward County officials have already asked residents to conserve as much water as possible.
“It’s going to take us a little while with consistent summer rainfall patterns to build back up the supplies that have been diminished,” says Smith.
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