Lakeland
Lakeland, FL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
lakeland, city of
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID FL6531014
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Lakeland, FL is a mid-sized city, with a population near 104,401 and the 21st-largest community in Florida. Like much of Florida, Lakeland draws its water primarily from Floridan aquifer, Biscayne aquifer, and surface water.
Lakeland's water outlook is shaped most by saltwater intrusion — the issue that dominates planning across Florida. Florida reuses roughly half its treated wastewater — one of the highest rates nationally — while fighting saltwater intrusion into the aquifers that supply South Florida.
Lakeland sits in a state that reuses roughly 49% of treated wastewater (established programs) and currently experiences severe to extreme drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Florida state water profile and the related issues below.
Polk County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~104,401 (21st-largest in Florida)
- Primary sources: Floridan aquifer, Biscayne aquifer, and surface water
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~49% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Florida in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Lakeland?
Lakeland's largest water system, LAKELAND, CITY OF, serves about 193,297 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0.6 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Lakeland get its water?
LAKELAND, CITY OF draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Florida's supply from Floridan aquifer, Biscayne aquifer, surface water.
Related water issues
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
Explore