Expansion in Lehigh Acres is creating concern that the community could eventually run out of water.
A report from the South Florida Water Management District says many private wells have resulted in overuse of the sandstone aquafer in the Lehigh area.
Thousands of people here in Lehigh Acres rely on well water. Those wells have been drying up during the dry season and have left many people going without water.
Now, the county is moving to address the problem, but don't expect results overnight.
Residents in Lehigh Acres have complained for years they've been dealing with dry wells.
Michael Yeager who lives in Lehigh described it a big problem.
“It's a big concern for many, many people out here in Lehigh,” he insisted.
The problem has kept drilling companies busy over the past several years as they’re forced to drill deeper wells to find potable water.
“The well is going to dry up because they can only dig these wells so deep,” Yeager said.
Commissioner Brian Hamman called the situation serious.
“We were notified by the water management district that the aquifer we use out there for the water supply was getting low, lower than it had ever been,” Hamman said.
Lee County Commissioners are paying a firm $1.8 million in grant money to study the situation and find an alternative water source and it includes drilling three test wells.
“Once it's complete we'll have a game plan to find alternative sources of water out there in Lehigh Acres,” Hamman explained.
More housing and business development requires more water.
Residents like Yeager believe the problem could have been avoided.
“They should have become a city through Lee County, and all of the plumbing would have went to them because they would have been a city,” Yeager said.
An idea that Hamman calls a real possibility.
“I do think there will be a day where Lehigh Acres, because of the amount of people who live there and how dense the population is, could see public utilities, in fact it may be the best approach going forward,” Hamman noted.
The study alone is expected to take 18 months.
Then, they'll have to implement the best solution, which could take even longer.