Cape Coral UEP hookups, a step-by-step guide to switching from well and septic to city water and sewer

If you’re on a well and septic in Cape Coral, the Utility Expansion Project can feel like someone handed you a to do list written in plumbing code. The good news is the process is predictable once you know who does what.

This guide breaks down Cape Coral UEP hookups in plain language, from the first letter you get to the final inspection, plus what to budget for on the City side versus the private side.

You’ll also get a printable checklist and the exact questions to ask before you sign anything.

UEP work happens in phases, and the rules that matter most to homeowners kick in when services are officially available to your property. The City’s public UEP hub is the best place to orient yourself, track your area, and find the “how to connect” resources: Utilities Extension Project (UEP).

When your area is ready, you’ll get a notice (often called a Notice of Availability). From that point, the City’s connection guidance explains that connection to potable water and wastewater is required within a set timeframe for properties in the project area. The City’s overview of the timeline and required steps is outlined here: City UEP connection process information.

Before you call any contractor, get these details pinned down:

• Your service availability date and required connection window
• Whether irrigation (reclaimed) is available in your street and if it’s optional
• Where your water meter and sewer stub out are located (many owners find them only after a quick site walk)

Think of it like switching from a generator to the power grid. The street is the grid, your yard is the work you still own.

Below is the typical sequence for a conversion. Your order may shift a bit based on inspections and scheduling, but the pieces don’t change much. If you want a plumber’s view of the full scope, see Utility Expansion Project services.

Even “small” trenching can hit power, cable, or existing private water lines. Call 811 several business days before digging so utilities can mark lines. Don’t let anyone start trenching with unmarked ground, even if they say, “It’s only a few feet.”

UEP work is not the time for guesswork. You want someone who understands Cape Coral inspections, typical depths, cleanouts, and how to avoid cross-connection problems.

The City requires a permit for hookups in UEP areas, and the same permit generally covers both water and sewer work. The City’s published procedure and key rules are listed here: Cape Coral water hook-up procedures.

Important note from the City’s guidance: no cross-connection is allowed between potable water and any non-potable supply. If your home has well-fed irrigation, hose bibs, or any legacy tie-ins, your plumber needs to handle separation correctly.

Your plumber typically installs:

• The water service line from meter to home tie-in point
• The building sewer from home to the City connection point
• Required cleanouts and test points

If your house has old piping, this is also the moment to decide whether to keep it or upgrade. A conversion can expose weak spots fast, like an old shutoff that won’t fully close.

Once sewer is active, the septic system must be properly abandoned per local requirements. In practice, this often includes pumping the tank and then filling, crushing, or removing components, based on what inspectors require and what’s on your site.

If you’re abandoning a well, it typically requires a licensed professional and documented closure steps. Also, confirm every old well line is disconnected so you never risk backflow into potable plumbing.

Your plumber schedules inspections for pressure tests, pipe bedding, and final tie-ins as required. After approvals, the City activates service and you transition to monthly billing.

After backfill, test every fixture. Run tubs, flush toilets, and check hose bibs. If anything is weak or noisy, deal with it immediately, before sod and landscaping hide the path.

For the City’s step list and homeowner guidance in one place, use: How to connect in Cape Coral UEP areas.

UEP costs usually come in two buckets: City-side project costs (assessments, set by the City) and private-side connection work (your plumber and any well or septic contractors).

For current assessment schedules and how they’re calculated in your area, start here: UEP assessment costs (City info). Because assessments vary by area, frontage, and project scope, use the City’s published numbers for your neighborhood, not a generic estimate.

Here’s a planning table for the other moving parts homeowners often pay directly. These are broad budgeting ranges, and your site conditions can push them up or down.

If you’re trying to keep costs controlled, the biggest lever is usually the trench route. A clean path from meter and sewer connection to the home can save real money.

UEP conversions fail inspections for a handful of repeat reasons: wrong materials, missing cleanouts, improper slope, or an accidental cross-connection with an old well line. It’s also common for homeowners to forget that sewer work can uncover pre-existing issues, like a belly in the old building drain.

If you suspect an existing leak or want to confirm everything is tight before activation, it can help to schedule leak detection services. If you’ve had backups, slow drains, or root intrusion, talk through sewer cleaning and repair before the new connection goes live.

• City (UEP / billing) : Ask what forms are required to begin service and where to submit them, using Customer Billing Services new connection information.
• Your plumber : Ask who pulls the permit, how inspections are scheduled, and how they’ll confirm there’s no cross-connection to any old well piping.

• Call 811 and confirm markings are complete before digging
• Get a written scope that separates water, sewer, septic, well, and restoration
• Confirm permit responsibility (homeowner vs. plumber), and get the permit number
• Verify potable water is isolated from any well or irrigation lines
• Schedule septic and well abandonment with proper documentation
• Walk the trench route before backfill, take photos for your records
• After activation, test every fixture and check for leaks for 48 hours

Cape Coral UEP hookups aren’t hard, they’re just easy to mess up when the work is rushed. Slow down at the planning stage , ask the right questions, and hire a plumber who does these connections every week, not once a year.