CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral has been awarded $4,041,984 in state funding through Florida’s Alternative Water Supply Grant Program to improve reclaimed water infrastructure and expand alternative water supplies.
The funding comes as part of $100 million announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis for water projects across Florida. Cape Coral is one of 22 cities selected to receive funding through the program, which supports water conservation, reuse, and resource development projects.
“Very grateful Governor DeSantis did that and very grateful we’re on that list and that it’s funded and we hope it’s put to great use,” said Cape Coral resident Mike Hess.
City officials said the grant money was initially intended for the reclaimed water component of the North 3 Utilities Expansion Project. However, due to a recent city council decision to delay construction by 12 months, the funding may be redirected to a different project.
“We were in a severe drought last year, you may remember, and that could easily happen again in the dry season,” said Jason Pim, a Cape Coral resident and Calusa Waterkeeper board member.
Pim, who is passionate about water conservation, shared his perspective on sustainable practices. “I grew up camping and cruising on a boat, and where you have a finite amount of water, you learn to conserve it, and as a person living in the city, you take that for granted,” he said.
He believes some of the grant money should be going towards education on water conservation.
“I think it is a much more sustainable approach than continuing to go out and buy reservoirs in other counties and piping it in,” Pim said. “I think we really should be emphasizing conservation as well.”
The fiscal year 2026-27 award will help Cape Coral conserve water and meet the community’s irrigation needs through reclaimed water use.
The city will coordinate with the state to finalize how the funding will be applied to eligible infrastructure improvements.
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