Water

While the debate on fluoride has a focus on dental care, what about the other health issues regarding fluoridated water?

Last week, Ron DeSantis officially signed a new bill that eliminates the addition of fluoride into public water. The decision comes during a heated debate over the health benefits of the mineral.

Lee County Utilities will end its routine free chlorine flush on May 21. It will convert its disinfection process back to the use of chloramines. The flush began May 1.

Water levels in the aquifer that provides water in portions of Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County has reached critical levels prompting the city of Cape Coral to issue an alert and warning that further restrictions are likely.Residents and businesses were warned Thursday that water levels in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer — the source of drinking water for northern Cape Coral and parts of Lee County — continues to decline and has now reached a critical threshold.

Residents can resume normal use after precautionary boil water botice lifted for neighborhoods off Orange River Boulevard east of Interstate 75

Since Nov. 2023 the Mid-Hawthorn aquifer that provides irrigation and drinking water to most of Northeast Cape Coral has been seeing record lows in water levels. Residents living in the area have been under mandatory water shortage restrictions that limit irrigation to just one day a week.

From April 22 through May 6, Sarasota County Public Utilities will temporarily modify its drinking (potable) water disinfection process as part of routine maintenance. The water will remain safe to drink.

The City of Fort Myers will build two new water wells, using nearly $15 million that was awarded to the city last September. The money is part of a $1.1 billion grant from the federal Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recover (CDBG-DR). The money was allocated following Hurricane Ian to help Lee County with long-term recovery.

Sarasota County is continuing upgrading water meters throughout unincorporated Sarasota County to enhance the utilities system and improve response times during weather events and year-round. This project started in 2023 on Siesta Key and is expected to take five years to complete the remaining meter replacements throughout unincorporated Sarasota County.

Charlotte County residents concerned that flooding from Hurricane Helene may have contaminated their private wells can test their water for free while supplies last.