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Lake Clinch-Bay View Park Survey

Home / Services / Utilities / Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Projects

Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Projects

Why convert from septic to sewer?

Converting from septic to sewer saves property owners on maintenance costs, increases property value, and reduces contamination to nearby water bodies.

Polk County Utilities (PCU) staff are planning future wastewater collection improvement projects that could allow property owners to connect to central sewer service. These potential future projects are part of a countywide effort to protect groundwater and improve the quality of the region’s natural water systems by eliminating septic tanks and replacing aging wastewater system infrastructure.

What are the goals of septic-to-sewer conversion projects?

Diagram showing how septic systems pollute the environment in dry weather. Septic tanks drain into a drain field. The sewage is partially treated in soil. Groundwater carries the pollution to the surface, which damages the lake ecosystems.
Septic systems use drain fields to filter out wastewater pollutants before they enter the natural groundwater system. However, the added waste pollution from aging or failing systems can be detrimental to public health and contribute to algae blooms in nearby water bodies.
  • Improve environmental health by reducing water pollution
  • Improve reliability and resiliency of the wastewater system by extending sewer service and eliminating aging septic systems

What are the community benefits of septic-to-sewer conversion projects?

  • Eliminates failing septic systems
  • Reduces maintenance
  • Reduces offensive odors
  • Provides more land for property improvements
  • Increases property values
  • Improves quality of life
  • Protects the environment

These projects are in the early stages of planning, and more details will be communicated to property owners and residents when they are known.

Lake Clinch and Bay View Park Area

One of the first neighborhoods being considered for potential conversion to central sewer is the Lake Clinch-Bay View Park area. Lake Clinch has been determined to be an impaired water body, which means that its water does not meet the Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards for healthy water quality. By converting homes in this area to a central sewer system and decommissioning septic tanks, homeowners can send their wastewater to a treatment plant. The treated water can be used for irrigation or ground water resupply to help keep Polk’s lakes, rivers and wetlands healthy.

Project Area Property Owner Survey

PCU staff are gathering feedback from the Lake Clinch and Bay View Park area property owners about their septic systems and interest in converting from a private septic system to a central sewer system for wastewater collection and treatment. If you are a property owner within the Bay View Park water utility service area, your participation in the survey is vital. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Lake Clinch-Bay View Park Survey