Fort Myers launches $55 million water system expansion to prepare for future storms

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Fort Myers is breaking ground today on a $55 million project to expand its drinking water wellfield, aiming to ensure residents have reliable access to water during future storms.

The city is using nearly $55 million in state funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund the project, with no cost to taxpayers.

The expansion will include up to 12 new water wells and backup generators designed to keep the system running during hurricanes, flooding, or extended power outages.

After Hurricane Ian, the city faced water pressure issues and system instability due to problems with the raw water supply, leaving many residents worried about reliability during a crisis. City leaders say these upgrades will create a more resilient water system as more people and development move into the area.

"It's part of the growth that we're planning for," said Jason Sciandra, assistant director of utilities for the City of Fort Myers. "Developers are ready to go and [are] putting new infrastructure, new exciting projects, and that water supply is going to be there."

The construction for this project is set to begin in June and take around 18-24 months to complete.

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