Bonita Springs Utilities warns of possible saltwater intrusion; council urged to conserve

Andy Coble, executive director of Bonita Springs Utilities, told the Bonita Springs City Council that the South Florida water-management district recently issued a water-shortage warning for wells in Lee and Collier counties and that some monitored wells show less than one foot of freshwater head, raising concern about potential saltwater intrusion.

Coble said Bonita Springs Utilities has used reverse-osmosis alternative water sources since 2004 and has increased allocation requests from the district so it can shift away from freshwater withdrawals when needed. “We pretty much stopped all fresh water withdrawals from the West Well field, moved any farther east, and then increased usage of the lower, deeper alternative source,” Coble said.

Coble described near-daily coordination with the district and said staff report chloride monitoring results weekly to support any decisions on watering restrictions. He urged residents to continue conservation and follow any restrictions the district may issue.

Deputy Mayor Purdon clarified the city itself had no watering restrictions at the time; Coble said enforcement for private residents typically begins with education and may escalate to code enforcement, while the district enforces consumptive-use permits for larger users such as golf courses.

The utility will meet with district staff later the same day and continue monitoring; Coble said the drinking-water supply for Bonita Springs should be secure as long as conservation and any future restrictions are followed.