Cape Coral approves assessments for more homeowners to hook into city water and sewer

The Cape Coral City Council recently approved assessments for the Utilities Expansion Project and offered three payment options, ranging from immediate payment to stretching out the bills over 30 years, with an estimated interest of 6.5 percent.

The price for each homeowner? About $35,000.

Known as the UEP, Cape Coral’s project has converted nearly all homes south of Pine Island Road to city water and sewer.

Now the UEP is moving to a zone in the Northwest Cape where about 3,000 homes will have to convert septic tanks and water wells.

Kara Rogers said she owns a home in the new zone and is reviewing payment options.

“We bought at the height of the market, so we already have a high mortgage, and then the way that they have the amortization set up, you're paying the highest payments in the beginning," Rogers said.

Council Member Tom Hayden said homeowners have to connect to city sewer and water to allow the city to grow.

"The South Florida Water Management District just told us that if we don't continue to execute a plan that puts everybody in utilities, they could enact a building moratorium on us because of the amount of stress that's being placed on the shallower aquifers,” Hayden said.