Water Shortage
Water Shortage in Northeastern Cape Coral
- 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.
A Water shortage is a temporary declaration made by the Governing Board or the Executive Director of the Water Management District when water conditions in parts or all of the District are deemed insufficient to meet the present and anticipated needs of residents and other water users. Such a declaration is made to help reduce impacts to our water resources. A water shortage usually occurs due to drought and is rescinded once wetter conditions return to the affected areas.
A Water Shortage Emergency is a second type of temporary declaration made by the Governing Board or the Executive Director of the Water Management District. This declaration is made when the District determines water shortage provisions are not sufficient to protect the welfare of the general public, permitted water users or the environment. Typically, the restrictions on water use are more limiting than under a water shortage declaration.
Declaration of a water shortage condition and/or water shortage emergency within any specific area by the Governing Board or Executive Director of the District supersedes the District's Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule and any local landscape watering ordinance for the duration of the declaration. For more information on the District's Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule, click HERE.