Environment

Extreme drought drains Alachua County groundwater to historic lows

Groundwater levels across Alachua County have dropped to the 10th percentile as a prolonged drought has left the area roughly 20 inches below normal rainfall. An extreme water shortage has been declared for the region, and private wells in and around the city of Alachua are among the hardest hit, with some going completely dry. A water pump professional with decades of experience described current conditions as the worst he has seen since 2001, with crews lowering pumps and responding to depleted wells at an elevated rate.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News · Alachua County