Cape Coral residents stuck living days without water

What started as a quick shower led to a daunting discovery by the Perkins family: They had no water.

With each quote to fix the situation, John Perkins III said the price tag only gets higher. Perkins told WINK News he’s been told he will need to have a new well dug to get water.

“We call somebody out here. [They] notice that it was at a lower water table, so they wanted to remove the pump, going to have to dig a whole new well for about $9,000, $10,000,” added Perkins.

Water supply has been a problem in the Cape for months.

Northeast Cape Coral has been under a water shortage advisory since last November.

• READ MORE: Low canals and dried-up wells: Why does Cape Coral keep building?

“Been showering at Planet Fitness, getting a gym membership, coin laundry, Tractor Supply for the dogs,” said Perkins. “Got about 75 gallons of water, just jugs, and water bottle containers and gallon jugs to flush the toilets, wash our hands, brush our teeth, things like that.”

Perkins’ father, the homeowner, told WINK News reporter Camila Pereira over the phone that he fears it has to do with the city’s growth.

“What concerns me is all these apartment buildings that I see going up all over the place and how they plan to sustain water for all of these people,” said the homeowner. “That is leaving current, existing homeowners with no water, the time that it’s taking to get new wells drilled to get water to people who don’t have it, and the city’s lack of concern for those people who have been long-term residents that have been taxpaying residents.”

With plans to connect all of Cape Coral to city water within 15 years, Perkins worries it will only get worse.

• READ MORE: Water woes: Cape Coral to address water issues with townhall meeting

 “Can’t be here without water and just trying to get it resolved as quickly as possible. It’s, you know, just slow, frustrating with the city,” said Perkins.