As California faces its driest year on record, rural communities are facing tough shortages of water.

This week, the state identified 17 communities that could run out of water within 60 to 100 days. One of those is Brooktrails in Mendecino County.  

Last week, we spoke to Denise Rose, she’s the general manager for Brooktrails. She told us that the typical year brings 60 inches of rain. Last year, 2013, the area got just five inches. And the effects are obvious -- especially in the local reservoirs.

But it’s not just Brooktrails that is hurting. The communities are spread across 10 counties in the state.  

For more on just how bad it is and what's being done to alleviate the situation, we turn now to Mark Starr, deputy director for the Department's Center for Environmental Health.