Over the past few decades Lee County and The Village of Estero have been monitoring the quality of the water along the Estero River and Estero Bay. Using this data, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) determined the Estero River has high levels of bacteria and the Estero Bay has high levels of nutrients. While the Estero River has not been identified as having high levels of nutrients, recent data indicates nitrogen levels may be increasing in the river. The samples with high levels of bacteria generally coincide with the areas of the Village that are using septic tanks. Measures need to be taken to reduce the levels of bacteria and nutrients to better protect the river and bay.

The Village of Estero recently hired Banks Engineering to design and permit the extension of utilities to See See Street. This design phase is needed to better understand the required scope of the project and better position the Village to obtain grants and other funding sources to offset the project costs.

Project costs are not yet known and will be estimated as part of this design project. The Village Council has not yet determined when construction would occur. That will likely depend on funding.