Dry wells again? Cape Coral aquifer could be drained further this dry season
CAPE CORAL — It has been a very wet, wet season in Cape Coral. In fact, we have received 126% of our normal rainfall or about 10 inches more. While that sounds great heading into the dry season, it wasn’t enough to recharge the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer that supplies water, including drinking water to Northeast Cape Coral.
“We are somewhat disappointed in the response of aquifer over the summer,” said Mark Elsner, the Water Supply Bureau Chief with the South Florida Water Management District.
He says we typically see a 15-foot increase in the aquifer during the summer months, but this summer that didn’t happen. Instead, it only rose 3 to 5 feet.
“The aquifer doesn’t recharge locally,” says Elsner. “The recharge area is up in DeSoto and Charlotte County. We looked up water levels up there, and water levels are maintaining themselves in that area. Within Cape Coral and the lack of response this summer, we think it is just due to the demands in the Cape itself.”