HOMEOWNERS are being warned in a letter that they will be forced to pay thousands of dollars to make a mandatory switch rolled out by officials.
It comes as their city makes a sweeping change to how they access utilities in the area.
Thousands of Cape Coral residents are being forced to shell out thousands of pounds at the request of the city[/caption]
They will have to foot the bill for switching to get water supplies from the city rather than private wells supplied by a struggling aquifer (Stock)[/caption]
Around 2,000 residents of Cape Coral, Florida, will soon receive letters from officials giving them the compulsory order.
They will all be told to connect to city water, which is non-negotiable, The South Florida Water Management District told Fox News affiliate WFTX-4.
The change is being implemented as the Mid-Hawthorne Aquifer, which supplies private wells across the city, suffers severely low water levels.
But the fees residents face in order to make the switch rack up to thousands of dollars.
They will have to foot the bill for water lines and meters to be installed, consultations with licensed plumbers, and connection fees.
“I just think it’s outrageous, because nobody, I mean, really has like, $40,000 laying around,” homeowner Vanesa Grajale said.
“It was like $33,000 you know, which is kind of high,” fellow resident Belinda Jarvis added.
“I would love to recoup some of that somehow.”
URGENT ACTION
South Florida Water Management District explained that if homeowners are quick enough to act they can get some financial support.
By taking action within 90 days of receiving the letter, during which time they connect to the city’s water and pass an inspection, they can have the connection fee waived.
Meanwhile, there are grant assistance programs available for those needing support with costs, the city told the outlet.
All residents will have to make the switch over the next six months.
The city has highlighted how making the switch now will be cheaper in the long run if water levels at the aquifer run out.
“Residents and business owners will need to work with a licensed plumber to permit and complete the new service connection by installing a water line,” officials said.
“While costs can vary, a licensed plumber can provide an estimate—but it’s important to note that connecting to City water is typically thousands of dollars less expensive than having to re-drill a private well if it were to run dry.”
Despite the staggering costs, the daughter of one homeowner in the neighborhood welcomes the move.
“I’m ready to have the city water and not have to worry about the well water issue,” Ardaijah Pointer from Diplomat Parkway said.
While rainfall and water restrictions saw levels replenish slightly since the aquifer hit record lows in April, officials remain cautious.
“We are not out of the woods, but we are not facing that level where we could have serious harm to the aquifer,” South Florida Water Management District Bureau Chief Mark Elsner told the outlet.
Officials have been worried about the aquifer losing its capacity to hold water which could impact the surrounding ground and building foundations.
But with the recent water restrictions and push for residents to switch water supplies, Elsner is confident there will be a positive impact on the aquifer.
“Once they start connecting residents and taking those wells offline, we’ll have a better idea of the aquifer, how it’s reacting to that less demand,” he said.
Residents can get the connection fee waived if they switch and pass an inspection within 90 days of receiving the letter (stock)[/caption]
Officials have tried to reassure homeowners that they are actually saving money by switching (stock)[/caption]
