‘I’m done with Cape Coral;’ Water shortage continues to frustrate residents

Wells are drying up in Cape Coral, and people are running out of ideas on what to do.

In the 1980s, the City of Cape Coral knew that the Mid-Hawthorne Aquifer alone could not support a growing population.

Neighbors in Cape Coral told WINK News they were told they would be connected to city water by 2008. However, a recession hit, and the project was put on pause.

18 years later, they are paying to dig their wells deeper while waiting to pay even more to use city water in the future.

Howard Bartels said the only reason his lawn is lush and deep green is his oak tree, which was planted in his grandson’s honor nearly 20 years ago.

Since he moved into his Northeast Cape Coral home in 1999, he and his neighbors have dealt with water supply issues.

“Pretty much every year, you can go to the canal up the road, and there’s usually a boat sitting in the mud,” said Bartels.

He is a strict follower of the nearly yearly irrigation moratorium, but he’s had enough.

“I’m done with Cape Coral. A few years, I will definitely be out of here,” said Bartels.

His home relies on a well for water. He and his neighbors have paid at least $10,000 in the last few years to dig their well deeper into the dehydrated Mid-Hawthorne aquifer.

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“In 2006, we were guaranteed water when we bought our house. That was our target date,” said Bartels.

18 years later, they’re still not connected. And, like much else, it costs a lot more than it would have all those years ago.

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“It went from $8,000 to $32,000 right now. Then, you have to hire a plumber at $12,000. So you’re over $40,000. And the people that don’t have the money, that have to refinance, aren’t gonna be able to afford their mortgage,” said Bartels.

A water treatment facility was built in North Cape Coral back in 2008. Then, when the recession hit, the city council halted the project because of the economy.

Homes in South Cape Coral got connected, while homes in the North, particularly the North East, like Bartels, did not.

“It’s a frustration for us because we could have paid cash for it years ago and not had this issue. I mean, we’ve had issues where we’ve gone without water for a week when we had to have our wells lowered,” said Bartels.

It could be another 15 years for some homeowners to have the ability to connect to city water.

Bartels expects that cost to rise even more in that time.