Public water system · FL6532234
ActiveLake Wales, City of
At a glance
City of Lake Wales (PWSID FL6532234) is an active community water system in Polk County, Florida. It reports serving 18,722 people through 7,818 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
18,722
Service connections
7,818
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Lake Wales compare with other water systems in Polk County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Lake Wales is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Polk County has 401 active public water systems. Its population served is about 11 times the county average of 1,677 people per system, and accounts for 2.8% of the 672,540 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Florida, the 5,197 active systems average 4,345 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so City of Lake Wales is about 179% above that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Florida has 1,640 active community water systems, 32% of the state's 5,197 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 4,996 Florida systems (96%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Lake Wales?
EPA lists City of Lake Wales as owned by a local government. The FL state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 46 of the 401 active systems in Polk County (11%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Lake Wales have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2023. The violations listed here began between April 1994 and October 2023. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 7 as resolved, 4 as archived and 1 as unaddressed. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-10-01 | ReportingReporting, Assessment Forms (RTCR) · code 4A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2017-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-01-02 | Monitoring and reportingFailure Submit IDSE/Subpart V Plan Rpt · code 35 | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0600 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1999-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1994-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
City of Lake Wales: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Lake Wales?
City of Lake Wales (PWSID FL6532234) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the FL state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Lake Wales serve?
City of Lake Wales reports serving 18,722 people through 7,818 service connections in Polk County, Florida.
Where does City of Lake Wales get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does City of Lake Wales have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2023. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is City of Lake Wales' water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the FL state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Lake Wales' water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Lake Wales must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Polk County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland, City of | Polk | 193,297 | Community | Groundwater |
| Winter Haven Water Department | Polk | 87,537 | Community | Groundwater |
| Northeast | Polk | 60,557 | Community | Groundwater |
| Southwest/Polk County Utility | Polk | 39,209 | Community | Groundwater |
| Auburndale, City of | Polk | 35,239 | Community | Groundwater |
| Haines City, City of | Polk | 30,545 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Lake Wales, City of, PWSID FL6532234, Florida”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/florida/lake-wales-city-of-fl6532234 (data as of October 1, 2026).