MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials called for voluntary water-use reductions in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, while dry conditions prompted supply concerns.
The South Florida Water Management District issued a water shortage warning on Feb. 5 for Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier, Glades, Highlands, and Lee counties.
Groundwater levels continued to decline at most of the Biscayne aquifer monitoring stations, according to the SFWMD officials.
To protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the SWWMD issued a water shortage order imposing landscape irrigation restrictions in northeastern Cape Coral in Lee County.
Less than 4 inches of rain has fallen since November, leaving the Everglades in a significant drought with very low moisture in the soil.
“We are short on water,” Hugo, who lives in Aventura, said. “We need to conserve water because it’s very important to do that. At the end, you don’t have water, you don’t have life.”
Hugo has actually been spraying his lawn with his own water source, coming from the pond behind his home.
“I have my own water for, I don’t know, 10 years probably,” he said.
Miami-Dade County officials say there’s a few things you can do to help:
- Skip any lawn irrigation that’s scheduled. If it’s necessary, use spot water only.
- Wait to run your dishwasher until it’s completely full -- same goes for washing machines.
- Avoid washing your car right now, or your boat.
- If you have a pool, wait to fill it up too.
For more information about the warning, visit this page.
Forecast
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
