Cape Coral issues burn ban, mandatory one-day watering

CAPE CORAL, Fla. The city issued a burn ban and declared a Notice of Emergency – Stage I Water Shortage Friday.

The burn ban, which prohibits most open burning with the exception of barbecues, is effective immediately. The one-day mandatory watering restrictions will go into effect Friday, April 21. The emergency water shortage declaration is the next stage of the City’s Emergency Water Conservation Plan and requires mandatory one-day watering for all Cape Coral residents and businesses, City Manager John Szerlag said.

“The combination of no rain and only minimal reduction in irrigation usage by our residents and businesses has lowered the water in our freshwater canal system to critical levels,” he said. “We cannot risk the public safety of our citizens who rely on fire protection from hundreds of fire hydrants connected to the irrigation supply. At the same, we also must take steps to limit potential fire risk by issuing the burn ban.”

Here is the mandatory one-day watering schedule effective for all Cape Coral residents and businesses beginning Friday, April 21:

Properties or developments up to five acres in size with an irrigation system that simultaneously irrigates multiple properties with different watering times, including duplexes, multi-family units, compound use and mixed use units, will be scheduled for Mondays from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

However, properties or developments over five acres in size will be scheduled for Mondays from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Those who violate the schedule the first time will receive a warning. A second violation will result in a $100 fine while a third violation is a $200 fine. Fourth violations will be a $400 fine, plus disconnection from the irrigation system.