Lee County, Florida: drinking water report. Lee County – Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and surrounding communities – serves about 800,000 residents on Florida's…
Lee County – Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and surrounding communities – serves about 800,000 residents on Florida's southwest Gulf Coast. Water comes from the Lower Tamiami Aquifer and the Sandstone Aquifer, with some utilities also drawing from surface water sources. Cape Coral operates one of the largest reverse osmosis water treatment plants in the country, necessary because its brackish groundwater requires desalination before it is drinkable.
Lee County's groundwater carries naturally high levels of minerals, sulfate, and in some wells, naturally occurring radium. Cape Coral's RO treatment effectively removes these along with PFAS and other contaminants, making it one of the most thoroughly treated supplies in Florida. Other Lee County utilities using conventional treatment face a different quality profile.
UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in several county systems. According to the Florida DEP's 2024 monitoring data, four public water systems in Lee County reported PFAS above detection thresholds. Page Field, the county's general aviation airport, is a potential PFAS source from historical firefighting foam use.
Your treatment level varies dramatically by provider in Lee County. Cape Coral's RO-treated water is among the cleanest in Florida; other providers may deliver conventionally treated water with higher mineral content.
Check your water to see data for your specific provider. If your utility does not use RO treatment, an under-sink RO system bridges the gap. Our water filter guide covers options. Pull your detailed report, and visit our Florida page for statewide data.