Cape Coral sprinklers spew water for days before fix

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A sprinkler spewed water for five days on from a median on Del Prado Boulevard before it was fixed Monday.

Some residents say they are appalled that the issue was not resolved since the sprinkler, located just south of Hancock Bridge Parkway, was in plain view and on one of the city’s busiest roads.

Charles Anderson, who owns a business near the defunct sprinkler, said it appeared the city was ignoring the issue.

“It was very strange. What was even stranger was watching all the city vehicles driving up and down the road and not doing anything about it,” he said.

But the sprinkler system is maintained by Lee County. A spokesperson said county officials were unaware of the issue until they were notified by the Cape Coral utilities department on Monday, which is when the city shut off the water supply to the system.

Anderson said it is unfair that there were no penalties, especially considering how notorious Cape Coral’s code enforcement is.

“I know if it was us as a homeowner, we would’ve been fined,” he said. “If it was a residence in the city, we would’ve got a certified letter in the mail within two days.”

Connie Barron, a spokesperson for the City of Cape Coral, said the city is not abandoning its sprinkler systems or its rules.

“We realize some residents do get upset when they see the ongoing watering of the medians while the city is asking them to water just twice a week, four hours a day. They think it’s the city just ignoring the schedule and doing whatever we want, which is not the case,” she said.