Bonita Springs Utilities works to stop gushing water near intersection

Reporter: Anika Henanger Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Photo by WINK News.

No one seems to know where gushing water from a burst pipe near an intersection in Lee County is coming from. The water has been pouring from it for the past two days and has not been stopped. Some nearby business owners, who depend on the water source, are beginning to worry it could have negative effects on their daily operations.

Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. is working to stop running water from pouring into the intersection of West Terry Street and US 41 in Bonita Springs Thursday.

“We’re really concerned about the amount of water that’s being lost,” said Kathy Turner, a clinic manager at Retina Eye Care.

Turner said it’s not a malfunctioning sprinkler. Her office is near this nonstop water flow, and she has watched water continue to flow from the ground.

“Two days, Turner said. “Started noon time on Tuesday.”

People have already tried to fix the issue, but it’s taking more than two tries to solve this issue.

“We’ve talked to public utilities, City of Bonita Springs, Public Works, Bonita Springs utilities, Barron Collier, The Fire Department,” Turner said.

So, the people at Retina Eye Care called private plumbers to get answers.

They said that they can’t just cap this without knowing where the source is so that somehow the source has to be located,” Tuner said.

But businesses near West Terry Street and US 41 are concerned about what might happen during the search for a source.

“We need it for our color to wash our clients’ hair,” said Torie Neinhaus, owner of Hair by Torie & Co. “So, hopefully they don’t turn the water off to try to figure out where it’s coming from. That would be a huge concern.”

WINK News contacted Bonita Springs Utilities that tells us it’s an ongoing repair, and it couldn’t provide additional details.

With water pressure plummeting, another business just wants to plug the pipe.

“It’s pretty upsetting because water’s a precious commodity here, and we’re all conscious of the loss,” Turner said.

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