Cape Coral asks residents to water lawns once a week amid drought

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—The City of Cape Coral has new watering recommendations as water levels in the Midhawthorne Aquifer continue to decline steadily over the last half century.

City leaders are asking everyone for help conserving as much water as possible. The city is recommending that residents water their lawns only once a week, though it is not enforcing this new guideline.

For those who use city water, Cape Coral has been under a two-day-a-week watering schedule for most of this year's drought, with specific days and times when residents can water their lawns. Neighbors desperately need it, with their lawns dried up from the lack of rain.

One area in northeast Cape Coral is under more restrictions because of a severe water shortage in the Midhawthorne Aquifer. The impacted area stretches from northeast Pine Island Road to Wilmington Parkway.

WINK News spoke to a neighbor from the area who says the changing conditions are frustrating.

"I'm selling you a house, okay, you have water, and then the City of Cape Coral says, Well, you can't use the water. I'd go to jail," the neighbor said. "City coral is still building houses and tells us not to use water, but that's okay."

Cape Coral city leaders say residents should check sprinkler systems for leaks and overspray. They also recommend avoiding watering during windy conditions or rain and sweeping driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing them off.

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