Cape Coral bags $6.5m SFWMD grant for major reclaimed water expansion

Cape Coral bags $6.5m SFWMD grant for major reclaimed water expansionThe North 1 UEP East project will install 182,000 linear feet of reclaimed water mains to transition residents from private wells to municipal irrigation, reducing strain on the Mid-Hawthorn aquifer.

City Council unanimously approved the $6.5 million South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) grant on July 15.

The North 1 UEP East project involves installing approximately 182,000 linear feet of 4- to 24-inch reclaimed water mains.

The infrastructure will offset approximately 2.81 million gallons per day of freshwater groundwater withdrawals.

Total construction costs for the overall reclaimed water project reach $26.6 million.

On July 15, the Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to accept $6.5 million in Alternative Water Supply (AWS) grant funding. The funds will support the North 1 Utilities Extension Project (UEP) East Reclaimed Water Extension. The project will construct approximately 182,000 linear feet of 4- to 24-inch reclaimed water mains, including valves, fittings, and associated appurtenances. The infrastructure will supply reclaimed water for irrigation to the eastern portions of the North 1 project area, transitioning residents away from private domestic wells. According to city documents, the expansion is projected to replace approximately 2.81 million gallons per day (MGD) of freshwater groundwater withdrawals. This shift is designed to protect the Caloosahatchee and Lower West Coast Aquifer Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) and reduce the irrigation burden on the Mid-Hawthorn aquifer, one of the city's primary drinking water sources. The total construction cost for the project is estimated at $26.6 million. The SFWMD grant will cover $6.5 million of the assessable costs, which will ultimately be credited back to the project's assessment upon completion of the grant term in December 2028. During the meeting, Council Member Kaduk highlighted the significance of the funding award, stating, "It is the receipt of funds for $6.5 million from the South Florida Water Management District... a lot of people ask if our lobbyists are worth the money, and this is proof that they are worth the money." In a separate water-related action approved on the consent agenda, the council also authorized a $560,367 grant modification from the Florida Division of Emergency Management for Phase II of the Weir 7 Improvement Project. The hazard mitigation project, which includes the installation of motorized adjustable gates and 42-inch steel reinforced polyethylene liner pipes for flood control, now has a total grant award of nearly $1.2 million to offset a $1.49 million construction contract previously awarded to Zep Construction, Inc.