What was found in Lake Wales's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 380 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3600 µg/L — WALK-IN-THE-WATER LAKE ESTATES · 502 people · 2019 | 17/22 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 170 µg/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 940 µg/L — GRAPE HAMMOCK · 120 people · 2018 | 22/22 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 18.85 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 262.51 µg/L — LAKE KISSIMMEE MHP · 35 people · 2018 | 22/22 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 95.95 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 209 µg/L — GREEN ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK · 62 people · 2019 | 7/22 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 22.15 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 129 µg/L — KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA · 425 people · 2019 | 22/22 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 57.65 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 111.8 µg/L — KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA · 425 people · 2019 | 22/22 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 45.2 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA · 425 people · 2018 | 5/22 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 1 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 45 µg/L — HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY · 100 people · 2018 | 6/22 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 36.6 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKE KISSIMMEE MHP · 35 people · 2018 | 16/22 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 2.82 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 33.2 µg/L — BEDROCK TOWERWOOD MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY · 300 people · 2018 | 21/22 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 16.2 µg/L 270% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNTAIN LAKES CORPORTION · 300 people · 2018 | 11/22 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 15.1 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: NEW HARMONY M H P · 26 people · 2018 | 14/22 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.5850 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 6.27 µg/L — SPRING LAKE ESTATES LLC · 55 people · 2018 | 13/22 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 5.44 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA · 425 people · 2018 | 3/22 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.4700 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 5.05 µg/L — WALK-IN-THE-WATER LAKE ESTATES · 502 people · 2018 | 12/22 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.15 pCi/L 28% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: GREEN ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK · 62 people · 2015 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 3.21 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: GRAPE HAMMOCK · 120 people · 2019 | 6/22 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.1000 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 3 µg/L — SPRING LAKE ESTATES LLC · 55 people · 2019 | 4/22 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.799 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SPRING LAKE ESTATES LLC · 55 people · 2019 | 2/22 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 2.2 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: GRAPE HAMMOCK · 120 people · 2018 | 5/22 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: ORANGE ACRES RANCH · 200 people · 2018 | 2/22 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.9050 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA · 425 people · 2018 | 2/22 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.8940 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: SPRING LAKE ESTATES LLC · 55 people · 2018 | 3/22 | SYR4 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 0.6000 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM · 1,479 people · 2019 | 2/22 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.2900 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY · 100 people · 2018 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| Methoxychlor | 0.2093 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 40 µg/L Highest in the city: WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM · 1,479 people · 2019 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: VILLAGE OF HIGHLAND PARK · 246 people · 2018 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| Simazine | 0.0650 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM · 1,479 people · 2018 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor | 0.0385 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 0.4000 µg/L Highest in the city: WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM · 1,479 people · 2018 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.0130 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM · 1,479 people · 2019 | 1/22 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0080 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2025 | 1/22 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0077 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2025 | 1/22 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.00090 mg/L 6% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0059 mg/L — ORANGE ACRES RANCH · 200 people · 2024 | 22/22 | LCR |
| Pfpea | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2025 | 1/22 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0055 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2025 | 1/22 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAKE WALES, CITY OF · 18,722 people · 2025 | 1/22 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Lake Wales
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LAKE WALES, CITY OF | 18,722 |
| CITY OF LAKE WALES/PARK WATER COMPANY | 1,948 |
| WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM | 1,479 |
| SADDLEBAG LAKE RESORT | 1,200 |
| WALK-IN-THE-WATER LAKE ESTATES | 502 |
| KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA | 425 |
| MOUNTAIN LAKES CORPORTION | 300 |
| BEDROCK TOWERWOOD MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY | 300 |
| BREEZE HILL MOBILE HOME PARK | 279 |
| VILLAGE OF HIGHLAND PARK | 246 |
| ENCHANTED GROVE MHP | 230 |
| THE HARBOR WATERFRONT RESORT | 211 |
| ROSALIE OAKS | 205 |
| ORANGE ACRES RANCH | 200 |
| GRAPE HAMMOCK | 120 |
| HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY | 100 |
| GREEN ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK | 62 |
| SOUTH SHORE RESORT | 60 |
| CAMP ROSALIE | 59 |
| SPRING LAKE ESTATES LLC | 55 |
| LAKE KISSIMMEE MHP | 35 |
| NEW HARMONY M H P | 26 |
Frequently asked questions about Lake Wales tap water
Is Lake Wales tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 36 contaminants in the water serving Lake Wales. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Lake Wales?
22 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lake Wales, Florida to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lake Wales's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lake Wales include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Nitrite, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.