Levels of groundwater are dependent on recharge from precipitation and water trickling underneath the soil. A drought means a serious depletion of precipitation and surface water. This means that people are increasingly dependent on groundwater stores. As water is continuously pumped up from the ground and no recharge occurs, the aquifer can deplete until it becomes empty.
This can cause serious problems for humans and animals as both ground and surface water are depleted. The water table can drop as water is removed from the surface and underground stores.
