Punta Gorda moves to modernize Chapter 17 of its utilities code, adding cross‑connection, enforcement and conservation rules

City staff and consultants presented a draft, rewritten Chapter 17 public utilities ordinance at a joint Punta Gorda City Council and Utility Advisory Board session, proposing a comprehensive reorganization of water, wastewater and billing rules.

Nicole Cohen of Corolla Engineers told the assembled council members and Utility Advisory Board that the rewrite is intended to “modernize the ordinance,” clarify responsibilities for customers, developers and the utility department, and strengthen enforcement tools and conservation and emergency‑management provisions.

The draft groups the ordinance into 10 articles and about 90 sections, Cohen said, adding sections for cross‑connection and backflow prevention, pretreatment and fats‑oils‑and‑grease control, metering and high‑consumption review, administrative remedies, and more detailed water conservation and drought‑response stages.

Derek Marie, chair of…