Process

Hook-Up

Getting Connected.

Because the City water and wastewater lines stop at the right-of-way, property owners are responsible for connecting their houses and businesses to the City's lines. Once the construction is complete, you will receive a letter informing you that the City's lines are ready and you can now connect.

The first step is applying for permits for water and wastewater hookups and septic tank abandonment. The City of Cape Coral and Lee County Health Department have streamlined this process; property owners can receive all permits at one location—the Cape Coral Customer Service Division. In addition, all permits should be obtained at the same time since the completion of the water and wastewater hook-ups requires an immediate abandoning of the septic system.

Here is a breakdown of permitting fees:

Water - No Fee
Septic Tank Abandonment - $75

Once permits are obtained, you may then have a licensed plumber make the water and wastewater connection and the required septic tank abandonment.

The following steps are required for water hook-up:

A permit is required. One permit will be issued for both water and sewer hookup. Permits for new construction and existing structures can be obtained by the plumber or the homeowner from the Utilities Customer Service/Billing Division at Central Cape Business Park, 1490 Pine Island Road NE, #10E.
No cross connection between a potable water supply and any nonpotable water supply is permitted. (Well and potable water shall be separate.)
Schedule 40 or Schedule 80 PVC shall be run from the meter to the building. Please refer to Water Service Minimum ¾” in Section 603, and Separation Water Service and Sewer in Section 603.2.
Pipe must be at least 12” deep after final grade. Please refer to guidelines set forth in the Water Supply Test, Section 312.5.
Dual check valve installed by City on meter must not be removed.
Shut off valve must be installed where the water line enters the building.
A vacuum breaker on the sprinkler system is required if the potable water is hooked to the sprinkling system.
A property notarized affidavit certifying that the person performing the connection has property completed the water test is required. The notarized affidavit must be submitted to Customer Billing Services.

An inspection of the water connection is required (inspection #019). LEAVE TRENCH OPEN UNTIL THE INSPECTION HAS BEEN APPROVED. After completion of the water hookup, turn on water at the meter. Inspections may be scheduled by phone or by internet. (SEE BELOW FOR INSPECTION SCHEDULING PROCEDURES).
Commercial, industrial, and multifamily (3 or more units) sites are required to install an RPZ Backflow Preventer at the service connection immediately following the water meter. The units shall be maintained by the property owner at their expense. Certification is required at the time of installation. Annual testing is required thereafter. Only American Water Works Association or State Certified Backflow Preventer Testers are allowed to test and certify the backflow preventers. Record keeping of the test reports will be maintained by the City of Cape Coral. All certification reports should be sent to 1800 Everest Parkway, Utilities Division, Collections and Distribution Construction Office, or faxed to the office at 239.5740855. Please call 239.574.0862 to arrange for an inspection.
For dual water connections, please refer to Materials and Nonpotable Water, Appendix F, Part IV, A (1) Purple Pipe.

For questions related to procedures for water hookup call 239.574.0609.

These procedures must be followed for hook-up of the wastewater system:

A permit is required. One permit will be issued for both water and sewer hookup, if necessary. Permits for new construction and existing structures can be obtained by the plumber or the homeowner from the Utilities Customer Service Division at Central Cape Business Park, 1490 Pine Island Road NE, #10E.
The permit issued must be posted in plain view. The permit must state the name of the installer and will be signed by the inspector upon completion.
An accessible two-way cleanout shall be installed not less than 18" from the building and every 80' thereafter.
The 4" sewer pipe shall have a minimum of 1/8" fall per foot as set forth in table 704.1.
Bends cannot exceed 45 degrees. A combination of bend can be used to achieve proper direction.
Pipe shall be approved for non-pressure sewer use and marked 3033, 3034, or SCH. 20 PVC or co-extruded PVC with stiffness PS 35. Pipe shall be laid so that any identifying markings face upward.
The electronic marker shall be replaced in its proper position at the connection to the city service lateral.
Pipe shall be buried with 12" of cover. After inspection, reasonably clean fill shall be used to backfill. Please refer to guidelines set forth in the Gravity Sewer Test Sec. 312.6, Trench and Back Fill Sec. 306, Existing Building Sec. 703.4, Solvent and Primer and Tables 702 and 702.2.
A properly notarized affidavit certifying that the person performing the connection has properly completed the gravity test is required. The notarized affidavit must be submitted to Customer Billing Services.

An inspection of the sewer connection is required (inspection #061). LEAVE TRENCH OPEN UNTIL THE INSPECTION HAS BEEN APPROVED. Inspections may be scheduled by phone or internet. (SEE BELOW FOR INSPECTION SCHEDULING PROCEDURES).
Once the inspection of the sewer hookup is complete, contact the Lee County Health Department (239.690.2100) concerning the septic tank abandonment. A letter from the Health Department will be required.

For questions related to procedures for sewer hookup call 239.574.0609.

Procedures to abandon the septic system should be completed within 90 days following connection to public sewer and directions are as follows:

Contact the utility’s customer service office for sewer connection permit and hookup requirements.
Obtain an abandonment permit for all non-Cape Coral expansion areas at:
Lee County Health Department
Environmental Health Section
2295 Victoria Avenue, #206
Fort Myers, FL 33901
For Cape Coral expansion areas, apply for abandonment at City Hall in Cape Coral. The cost of the permit is $75.00. Make check payable to Lee County Health Department. The check for $75.00 along with the completed application can be mailed to us for processing and we will contact you by phone when it is ready for pickup.
Have the tank pumped out by a licensed septage hauler and post the permit board in a protective plastic bag. Fax pump receipt to 6902101.
Crush or collapse the tank in a manner that will prevent the vessel from holding water, either by punching a hole in the bottom of the tank or collapsing its side walls. This work can be done by the owner, a licensed septic installer, or licensed plumbing contractor.
Fill the remaining hole with clean sand or other suitable material to prevent a safety hazard, then grade and stake the tank site.
After these procedures have ALL been completed, please call Environmental Health at 6902100 for an inspection or for more information.

* GREASE TRAPS WHEN USED WITH A COMMERCIAL SEPTIC SYSTEM WILL REMAIN PART OF THE BUILDING SEWAGE SYSTEM AND WILL NOT BE ABANDONED.

For your convenience, the City has provided a list of certified plumbing contractors who will be available to provide all of these services, as well as more detailed instructions on hook-up and abandonment procedures. Remember that once the City's construction is complete, connection to the water and wastewater system is mandatory within 180 days.

Additional Information

The following files require
Adobe Acrobat for viewing: