Don't know what is going on in your area but here in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia we are very, very dry and this undoubtedly is drying up nectar sources. But sources are not constantly producing during the warm season even when the weather is "normal". So can't help about what is going on where you are. But want to respond to your frustration about bees drowning in hive top feeders.
I feed from the top by two methods and it is impossible for the bees to drown in either one. One is using an inverted glass canning bottle (2 qt.) with hole punched lid. I simply turn it upside down over a hole in the inside cover and because I use a wooden piece to slide behind the lid when I remove and replace the bottle, no bees are able to get at me either.
The other method is a foam box feeder that goes directly over the bars of the top box and looks like a super from the outside of the hive. It has a plastic sleeve that keeps the bees from going into the syrup. They come down the side of the foam box and feed off the syrup that comes under the sleeve but they cannot get into the part of the feeder that holds the syrup. Feeder stays in place, and new syrup is simply poured in when the outer cover is removed. No bees, no fuss. Down side is ants. They cannot get into the hive but do find a way into the feeder to drink syrup. They are very small and are not a problem really but just kind of a yuck factor. At first I had a mold problem but when I use homemade "honey be healthy" I have no mold or other problems at all.
I tried the hive front feeder and found the bees would fly out to attack when I tried to change the bottle. I admit, that unlike some beeks, I do mind being stung. Other beeks report robbing with type of feeder. Good luck.