Wastewater Collections

Line Maintenance & Pump Stations

The Collection Section is divided into two main operating sections: the Line Maintenance and Pump Station sections.

Line Maintenance

Line maintenance deals with the collection and conveyance systems which encompass approximately 149 square miles of sewer use area with 331 miles of gravity sewer and 141 miles of force mains. This system is used to deliver the raw sewage to the wastewater treatment plants.

Pump Stations

182 Pump Stations are used to assist in the conveyance of wastewater to the treatment plants. The gravity sewer lines move the wastewater by use of gravity to flow to low areas. Once in these low areas, a pump station is used to move the wastewater along until it can again flow by gravity. The lines that come out of a pump station are called force mains because the wastewater in these lines are under pressure.

Do Not Flush or Dump

Medications

The City of Lakeland Water Department would like to ask citizens not to flush unwanted prescription medications down the toilet because flushing medications leads to water pollution. 

Sewage treatment plants are currently not designed to remove medication from the wastewater, so the chemicals end up in our waterways, which can have a negative impact on the water quality and on the wildlife that depends on that water.

You can safely get rid of unwanted medications by using the secure prescription drop box located in the Lakeland Police Department lobby.

For More Information:

• FDEP How to Dispose of Unwanted Medication
• FDA Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
• EPA How to Dispose of Medicines Properly

Wipes

Most wet wipes say that they are flushable, but we ask that they please be disposed of in the garbage.  Wet wipes typically do not break down like toilet paper does, which can cause blockages and other potentially expensive problems in homes and at the wastewater treatment plants.

For more information:

• Sewer Lines Constricted By “Flushable” Wipes
• North Liberty Homeowner Pays Thousands in Repairs after Sewage Clog
• Wet Wipes Box Says Flush. New York’s Sewer System Says Don’t.
• City of Lakeland Pumping Station Maintenance Video 

The City of Lakeland initially developed a grease management policy in 1995 to address a growing number of sanitary sewer overflows caused by grease blockages through the City's wastewater collection system.  Sanitary sewer overflows pose a risk to the environment and to human health.  There are currently grease interceptors required for all nonresidential establishments that have the potential to discharge wastewater containing fats, oils, or grease.  However, they are not currently installed in residential homes and therefore when cooking grease is dumped down the drain, it goes directly into our wastewater system causing blockages and many issues. 

How can you dispose of fats, oils, or grease? 

• First check out our C.O.R.E. program here: lakelandgov.net/core.  This program gives you a container and a designated place to safely dispose of cooking oil
• Place in a sealed container after cooling.  Label the container "Cooking Oil-Not for Recycling" and dispose with the regular garbage. 
• Let it harden and dispose of it in the garbage.
• Use paper towels to wipe residual grease or oil off of dishes, pots, and pans before washing.