Water Conservation
Water Shortage in Northeastern Cape Coral
- Posted on October 2, 2025:
In order to continue to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District (District) still has a Water Shortage Order imposing Modified Phase IV Water Shortage restrictions in a designated area of Northeastern Cape Coral in Lee County for residents and businesses that use private wells for irrigation. This restriction does not apply to homes and businesses on city water.As of October 1, 2025, the water level at the USGS Monitoring Well L-4820 in the water shortage area has increased to -85.14 feet (NAVD) or about 9 feet since record low levels in April. This increase is the result of the restrictions that were put in place. As a reminder, if the water level falls below -103.01 feet NAVD, serious and possibly irreversible harm may be caused to the aquifer.
Throughout the wet season the District has been closely monitoring water levels in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer. The City of Cape Coral started providing City water to the southern portion of the water shortage area. The City utilizes water from a different aquifer, so as people hook up to City water and abandon their Mid-Hawthorn well we typically see aquifer levels improve as the demands are reduced. This is a trend that monitoring has documented when the City has expanded their utility service into an area.
The District will continue to monitor aquifer conditions and coordinate with the City of Cape Coral and Lee County to take appropriate actions as necessary to protect the water resources in Cape Coral. It is important that residents with wells in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer continue water conservation measures as Cape Coral continues their efforts to expand water service to the residents within the affected area.
- Posted on May 2, 2025:
Stringent water restrictions are now in effect in Northeastern Cape Coral. In order to continue to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District (District) issued a Water Shortage Order imposing Modified Phase IV Water Shortage restrictions in a designated area of Northeastern Cape Coral in Lee County for residents and businesses that use private wells for irrigation. This restriction does not apply to homes and businesses on city water.As of May 1, 2025, the water level at the USGS Monitoring Well L-4820 in the water shortage area is at -93.61 feet (NAVD). If the water level falls below -103.01 feet NAVD, serious and possibly irreversible harm may be caused to the aquifer.
Read the Modified Phase IV Water Shortage Order.
Modified Phase IV water restrictions that are effective immediately include:
- Residents and businesses are no longer allowed to use their lawn irrigation systems if they use water from the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer. Hand watering using a self-cancelling nozzle and drip irrigation is allowed three times per week on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for users withdrawing groundwater from the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer.
- Landscape irrigation for public recreation areas (sport fields) is restricted to one day per week from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. for all types of irrigation and from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. for low volume hand watering.
- Low volume watering of pervious, non-vegetated public recreational/sporting surfaces is restricted to ten minutes of application prior to each recreational/sporting event.
Other restrictions for nurseries and aesthetic uses such as fountains also went into effect if they utilize groundwater from the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer.
In addition, the construction of new Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer wells within the water shortage area is now limited to just potable use. New users will be required to seek a different water source other than the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer for irrigation.
These restrictions are put into place to protect the aquifer and drinking water supply. Continued water use at current levels could cause long-term damage to this vital resource. District staff will continue to monitor water usage and groundwater levels.
- Posted on April 24, 2025:
Water levels in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer are continuing to drop and have reached a critical threshold. Continued water use at current levels could cause long-term damage to this vital resource.Based on the downward trajectory of the water levels, the South Florida Water Management District plans to issue additional water shortage restrictions on Friday, May 2, 2025, if the water levels remain below this critical threshold.
These restrictions include:
Residents and businesses will no longer be able to use their irrigation systems if they are connected to the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer.Limiting the construction of new Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer wells within the water shortage area to just potable use. New users will be required to seek a different water source other than the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer for irrigation.
These restrictions will be put into place to protect the aquifer and drinking water supply.
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Posted on April 10, 2025:
News Release
- Posted on November 28, 2023:
In order to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) declared a water shortage and issued mandatory irrigation restrictions for a portion of Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County. Landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week in the designated area for irrigation water supplied by private wells.
The public can get the latest updates from the SFWMD by signing up for text messages and emails here.
Conserving water year-round is an integral part of managing and protecting South Florida’s water supplies for today and for our future generations.
Around 3 billion gallons of water are used every day in central and southern Florida by 9 million residents and visitors – for watering our lawns, drinking and bathing, growing our crops and servicing our industries. Future water needs are projected to increase to approximately 4.1 billion gallons per day by 2040. One of the most effective ways to address increasing water needs is through water conservation.
Looking for information about when you can water? Visit SFWMD.gov/LandscapeIrrigation, scroll down and look for your city/county. Once you select your city/county, the correct information will pop-up.
Looking for information about Cape Coral? Click here.
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