>> BREAKING NEWS IN THE LAST 30 MINUTES. CAPE CORAL VOTED TO CONNECT MORE HOMES TO CITY WATER, BUT IT IS GOING TO COST HOMEOWNERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS FOR THOSE OF YOU LIVING BETWEEN DEL PRADO IN NORTHEAST 24TH TERRACE ALONG DIPLOMAT PARKWAY GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER KENNEDY MASON IS LIVE IN THE CAPE TONIGHT WITH HOW THIS WILL ULTIMATELY HELP PEOPLE ON. WELL, WATER, ESPECIALLY DURING DRY SEASON. >> HERE ALONG DIPLOMAT PARKWAY IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY AREAS WHERE THE CITY IS WORKING ON PUTTING PEOPLE ON CITY WATER INSTEAD OF WELL AS THE MID HOTHIR AQUIFER IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. YOU CAN SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OVER HERE. IT’S FILLED WITH DIRT, CRANES AND CONSTRUCTION CONES AND SOON ANOTHER AREA OF CAPE CORAL WILL LOOK JUST LIKE THIS. >> I WOULD BE FINE, STAYING ON WELL, WATER, BUT SCOTT CUTHBERT DOESN’T HAVE A CHOICE. HE AND MANY OTHERS IN THE NORTH ONE EAST, PART OF THE UTILITIES EXTENSION PROJECT WILL BE SWITCHED TO CITY WATER IN THIS AREA WITH IN DEL PRADO BOULEVARD. NORTH NORTHEAST 10TH TERRACE AND NORTHEAST 24TH AVENUE WITH THE GROWTH. THIS SOUNDS LIKE DOCTOR FOR CAN’T KEEP UP WITH IT ANYWAY. SOME SCOTS, RIGHT. THE CITY SAYS EXTENDING UTILITIES WILL HELP SUPPORT GROWTH AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, BUT IT ISN’T CHEAP. IT’S GOING TO BE 32,000, SOMETHING. >> AND THEN YOU GOT TO PAY FOR THE HOOK UP TO THE HOUSE. ADDITIONAL TO THAT. A YES. SO. >> YOU KNOW, PRETTY SPEND BAILEY LIKE MEYER IS WITH HUNCH INDUSTRIES. ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS FOR AP PROJECT. SHE EXPLAINS WHY IT’S MORE EXPENSIVE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO SWITCH OVER NOW THAN IT USED TO BE. ONCE THE CITY IS FINISHED, INSTALLING THEIR SEWER LINES. WE NEED TO COME BACK AT ADDITIONAL TIME TO CONNECT YOUR SO WHAT USED TO BE EVERYTHING DONE AT ONCE IN ONE TRIP IS NOW HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEING SPLIT INTO 2 SEPARATE TRIPS. >> THE CITY SAYS THE NORTH ONE EAST PROJECT SHOULD START NEXT YEAR. AND LA
Cape Coral residents face high costs as city water project expands
Updated: 6:26 PM EST Nov 19, 2025
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.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
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.