April showers ease drought conditions in district

Drought conditions throughout the St. Johns River Water Management District’s 18-county region improved, especially along the coast, thanks to above-average rainfall in April. Brevard County in particular had a wet April, with some areas in the north end of county receiving over 11 inches of rain.

At the end of April, groundwater levels districtwide are well above drought indicator levels with a majority of the District falling within the normal range. District staff will continue to monitor both rainfall amounts and groundwater levels to ensure adequate supply is available to meet public demand.

While it is always critical to use our water wisely, the District strongly encourages the public to be mindful of their water usage during these dry months until our summer rainfall patterns return.

Below are simple tips for residents and businesses to help save water and money on their water bill. 

Indoor

• Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full.
• Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent-press wash cycles use more water.
• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
• Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
• Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.

Outdoor

• Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks.
• Turn off your irrigation system and only water as needed.
• Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off.
• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle when washing the car.
• Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping. Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals.

A full report outlining April’s hydrologic conditions was presented at Tuesday's District’s Governing Board meeting. Highlights include:

Rainfall

• Districtwide, April rainfall averaged 4.18 inches, which is 1.58 inches above the average for the month.
• Districtwide, the cumulative rainfall total for the past 12 months is 49.71 inches, which is 1.30 inches below the long-term average.
• Rainfall over the past 12 months was well below average in the northern counties and well above average in the Orlando to Daytona region.

Groundwater 

• At the end of April, Upper Floridan aquifer conditions (groundwater levels) remained mostly in the normal range throughout most of the District.
• Groundwater levels expressed as a single districtwide index are at the 50th percentile, which is in the normal range for this time of year. 

Spring flows

• The mean monthly flow at Silver Springs has dropped into the low range for this time of year at 546 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 353 million gallons per day (mgd), which is a 39 cfs decrease from March’s mean.
• At the Blue Spring station in Volusia County, the mean monthly flow was 145 cfs, or 94 mgd, which is in the normal range.
• At Rock Springs, the monthly mean flow decreased slightly but remains in the high range with a decrease of 1 cfs to 61 cfs (39 mgd).
• Mean monthly flow at Wekiwa Springs is in the high range for this time of year at 67 cfs (44 mgd). 

To learn more about rainfall totals and other hydrologic data collected, visit www.sjrwmd.com.     

Visit WaterLessFlorida.com for tips to help landscapes thrive while saving water and money. Follow the water conservation conversation at #sjrwmd #waterconservation #savewater.

About the St. Johns River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the State of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The District encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay. 

For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.