Cape Coral residents face high costs as city water project expands
Residents in Cape Coral’s North 1 East area are facing substantial costs as the city undertakes a project to connect homes to city water, with some receiving bills up to $32,000. Scott Cuthbert, a resident of Cape Coral, expressed his preference for well water but acknowledged he has no choice as the city moves forward with the utility’s extension project.The Cape Coral City Council is awarding $109 million contracts to four construction companies for work in the area bounded by Del Prado Boulevard North, Northeast 10th Terrace, and Northeast 24th Avenue. “With the growth, it sounds like the aquifer can’t keep up with it anyway,” Cuthbert said.The city claims that extending utilities will support growth and improve water quality, but the financial burden on residents is significant. “It’s going to be $32,000 something and then, then you got to pay for the hook up to the house additional to that, so pretty spendy,” he said. Baylie Eikmeier from Honc Industries, one of the contractors for the project, explained the increased costs. “Once the city is finished installing their sewer lines, we need to come back at an additional time to connect to your sewer line,” she said. “What used to be everything done at once in one trip is now unfortunately being split into two separate trips.”The city plans to begin construction in the North 1 East area next year, with the project expected to take two years to complete.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
Residents in Cape Coral’s North 1 East area are facing substantial costs as the city undertakes a project to connect homes to city water, with some receiving bills up to $32,000.
Scott Cuthbert, a resident of Cape Coral, expressed his preference for well water but acknowledged he has no choice as the city moves forward with the utility’s extension project.
The Cape Coral City Council is awarding $109 million contracts to four construction companies for work in the area bounded by Del Prado Boulevard North, Northeast 10th Terrace, and Northeast 24th Avenue.
“With the growth, it sounds like the aquifer can’t keep up with it anyway,” Cuthbert said.
The city claims that extending utilities will support growth and improve water quality, but the financial burden on residents is significant.
“It’s going to be $32,000 something and then, then you got to pay for the hook up to the house additional to that, so pretty spendy,” he said.
Baylie Eikmeier from Honc Industries, one of the contractors for the project, explained the increased costs.
“Once the city is finished installing their sewer lines, we need to come back at an additional time to connect to your sewer line,” she said. “What used to be everything done at once in one trip is now unfortunately being split into two separate trips.”
The city plans to begin construction in the North 1 East area next year, with the project expected to take two years to complete.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.