Despite seeing inches of rain on Monday, water levels in Cape Coral are still at a record low, causing intense water restrictions.
The city of Cape Coral is making plans to continue addressing the water shortage to the Mid-Hawthorne aquifer in northeast Cape Coral and some parts of northwest. The aquifer supplies drinking and irrigation water to many private well users.
Construction fills this street in northeast Cape Coral for the utility expansion project. It’s one step the city is taking to improve the water issue here.
The much-needed rain Monday did not do the trick. In fact, the South Florida Water Management District says the aquifer is 10 feet below where it needs to be, meaning water restrictions remain.
"It’s prolonging the inevitable," said northeast Cape Coral resident Renee Harvel. "Hopefully, it holds, and we have enough water until we get the utility expansion."
Harvel is waiting on the UEP project. Cape Coral is speeding up the North 6 UEP project for 25% of those in the affected area by five years. The North 1 UEP should be done by 2027, which is 75% of the area.
This is one step in the right direction, as the SFWMD issued Phase 4 water restrictions earlier this month. That means no sprinkler use, with the exception of hand watering Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with a self-canceling nozzle or drip irrigation.
"I just want everybody to treat it as a community resource," Harvel said. "It's not mine, it's not yours. We all need it. You know?"
The city is increasing its presence, adding code enforcement to the area to make sure everyone is doing their part. It is also hiring more code enforcement employees.
The city also bought land in Charlotte County for a new reservoir. The goal? To replenish canal water levels and support the increased irrigation demand as people are put on city water.
Northeast Cape Coral resident James Coleman knows how essential these water sources are
"Weeds always look better when they get water, don't they?" Coleman said. "You can't keep the grass because you can't water it on time."
While any and all rainfall helps, the SFWMD said the solution is for residents to conserve water.
"Since everybody stopped watering their lawns, we've been able to take showers here every other day," Harvel said. "Very fast showers, but at least we can do that, so definitely an improvement there. Stopping the irrigation does seem to be helping."
Cape Coral said it may stop allowing new well permits if the problem continues to get worse.
For more information: Welcome to Cape Coral, Florida
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