Rainfall recorded so far this dry season is running about 50 percent below average throughout the 16county South Florida Water Management District. 

April is historically dry. It’s the time of year water managers urge consumers to conserve during “Water Conservation Month.”  District Spokesman Gabe Margasak said there are easy ways to conserve.

“Shorter showers, only running your dishwasher and clothes washer when there are full loads,” he said.  “A really big thing people can do is turn off their sprinklers when it’s raining outside because lawn irrigation accounts for one of the biggest uses of potable water.”

Margasak said 7.7 million people live in the district so if everyone conserves  a little the savings  can be significant.  

District-wide about six inches of rain have fallen since November – that’s about six inches short of the normal amount.

Dry conditions have helped sparked several wildfires in recent days, closing area roadways.

Typically,  the summer rainy season begins sometime in June.