The Cape Coral City Council has approved new fines for people who violate watering restrictions. Cape Coral is the largest city in Southwest Florida and it’s got a healthy thirst for water. Last year, the average Cape homeowner used 25-thousand gallons a month -- and that’s just for landscaping. So the city has decided to double its penalties for those that violate the twice-a-week watering rule. First time violators will now get a warning. But it’s 50 dollars for the second, 200 for the third and 400 dollars each time after that. Cape Coral Mayor Eric Feichthaler says water is a precious resource.

“We’ve had 70 people in Cape Coral have their wells run dry this year and it is from people irrigating too much. There is no doubt in my mind about that. If everyone used irrigation in reasonable amounts, we would not be having the problems we’re having.”

Feichthaler says the hefty fines don’t cover Cape Coral’s costs to enforce the new watering codes. The new penalties take effect immediately.