Polk, FL

High Risk (72/100)

A PlainEnviro-computed score from reported facility/violation counts, not an official EPA rating, health forecast, or population-adjusted rate. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against every other tracked county rather than against fixed national thresholds.

Environmental data for Polk in Florida · Population: 760,961

Polk, FL is tracked across three EPA datasets covering 50 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities, 88 Safe Drinking Water Act systems, and 0 Superfund National Priorities List sites. Together these generate an environmental burden score of 72/100 (High Risk), calibrated against national distributions for facility density, chemical release volume, Superfund concentration, and water-system health violations.

Industrial disclosures inside the county total 13.6M lbs of reported toxic releases under EPCRA Section 313, while 32 water systems carry an active health-based violation in the SDWIS record. EPA Air Quality System monitors logged a median AQI of 39 and a peak AQI of 105 in 2024, with 77% of observed days rated "Good" (0–50).

All figures below draw directly from federal EPA records, TRI self-reported emissions, SDWIS compliance history, NPL Hazard Ranking System scores, and AQS daily AQI summaries, and are not adjusted, weighted, or forecast. A past violation or elevated score does not itself indicate current unsafe conditions; it documents the regulatory and disclosure history publicly filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the most recent reporting cycle.

Population
760,961
TRI Facilities
50
Water Systems
88
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
13.6M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 282 (77%) 82 1 105
2023 275 (75%) 89 1 101
2022 264 (73%) 99 0 87
2021 232 (64%) 133 0 84
2020 252 (69%) 113 0 87
2024 Good Air Quality: 77% of days
Unhealthy days: 1
Median AQI: 39

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Florida, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (88)

System Population Violations
LAKELAND, CITY OF 193,297 0
WINTER HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT 87,537 1
NORTHEAST 60,557 2
SOUTHWEST/POLK COUNTY UTILITY 39,209 0
AUBURNDALE, CITY OF 35,239 1
HAINES CITY, CITY OF 30,545 0
NORTHWEST 28,082 0
BARTOW, CITY OF 21,501 0
LAKE WALES, CITY OF 18,722 0
PLURIS-SOUTH GATE UTILITIES 15,897 0
CENTRAL 13,595 7
DAVENPORT, CITY OF 9,043 0
LAKE ALFRED, CITY OF 5,584 0
CITY OF FORT MEADE 5,455 0
EAST WATER SYSTEM 5,052 1
WAHNETA WATER SYSTEM 4,500 0
DUNDEE, TOWN OF 3,824 18
MULBERRY, CITY OF 3,780 7
FROSTPROOF, CITY OF 3,425 5
SOUTHEAST 2,828 0
MOUNT OLIVE ESTATES 2,724 0
EAGLE LAKE, CITY OF 2,600 0
POLK CITY SYSTEM 2,568 0
GOLD COAST UTILITY 2,500 0
LAKE HAMILTON, TOWN OF 2,430 29
BABSON PARK 2,161 3
GRENELEFE RESORT 2,114 0
CITY OF LAKE WALES/PARK WATER COMPANY 1,948 0
FOXWOOD LAKE ESTATES 1,816 0
WAVERLY WATER SYSTEM 1,479 5
DEER CREEK RV GOLF ; COUNTRY CLUB 1,300 0
BRADLEY JUNCTION, TOWN OF 1,260 1
SADDLEBAG LAKE RESORT 1,200 0
LAKE REGION MOBILE HOME VILLAGE 930 1
CAREFREE COUNTRY CLUB, INC. 784 1
GREEN ACRES S/D 750 0
ORCHID SPRINGS 750 0
ILE UTILITIES 678 0
SWEETWATER COMMUNITY INC 640 1
TIMBER CREEK SUBDIVISION 556 0
PINES, THE 505 0
WALK-IN-THE-WATER LAKE ESTATES 502 0
FLORIDA LIGHT ; LIFE MHP 490 0
LAKE HENRY ESTATES 480 0
LAKEMONT RIDGE HOME ; RV PARK 469 3
DEERHURST MHC 432 2
KISSIMMEE RIVER PARK AND MARINA 425 11
SOUTHERN PINES RESORT 400 1
DAVENPORT MOB EST 390 0
TWIN FOUNTAIN MOBILE HOME PARK 375 0
LELYNN RV RESORT 350 0
VAN LAKES 344 0
LAKESIDE RANCH INVESTMENT CORP 325 0
MOUNTAIN LAKES CORPORTION 300 5
LAKE GARFIELD ESTATES 296 0
HAMMONDELL CAMPSITES 275 1
PARADISE ISLAND S/D 268 0
KEEN MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION 265 0
COUNTRY CLASS 256 0
CYPRESS GARDENS M.H. ; R.V. PARK 250 1
VILLAGE OF HIGHLAND PARK 246 0
CENTRAL LEISURE LAKE MHP ; RV 194 0
NORTH POINTE S/D 192 0
PLEASANT GROVE MHC 180 1
LA CASA DE LAKE WALES 143 1
DEANN VILLAGE MHP 135 2
GRAPE HAMMOCK 120 0
SCENIC VIEW MHP 120 0
BOB'S LANDING MOBILE HOME PARK 100 0
HAMMOCK LAKE MOBILE HOME AND RV PARK INC 100 1
SHEPHERD S/D 100 0
STW PROPERTY DUPLEXES 100 0
SHADY OAKS MHP 80 0
CYPRESS ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK 78 0
OAK HARBOUR RV VILLAGE 75 0
LAKEFRONT TRAILER PARK 70 0
ARROW LEE APARTMENTS 70 0
FISH HAVEN, LLC 66 0
SOUTH SHORE RESORT 60 1
CAMP ROSALIE 59 1
PEAK MOBILE HOME PARK 55 1
THE OASIS AT GRANDFIELD 48 0
COUNTRY OAKS ADULT MHP 36 0
HIGHLAND PINES MOBILE HOME PK 36 1
KATHLEEN OAKS MHP 35 0
PLEASANT VIEW MHP 30 1
NEW HARMONY M H P 26 0
SOUTHERN OAKS MHP 25 1

TRI Facilities (50)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Mosaic Fertilizer Llc-New Wales Plant 6.9M lbs
2 Mosaic Fertilizer Llc-Bartow 2.5M lbs
3 Cd McIntosh Jr Power Plant 608.6K lbs
4 American Environmental Container Corp 596.1K lbs
5 Keymark Corp. of Florida 573.0K lbs
6 Polk Power Station 539.9K lbs
7 South Atlantic Galvanizing 387.4K lbs
8 Nucor Steel Florida Inc. 307.1K lbs
9 Westlake Epoxy Inc 221.6K lbs
10 Greif Packaging LLC 220.3K lbs
11 Owens Corning Insulating Systems LLC - Lakeland 190.1K lbs
12 Mosaic Fertilizer Llc-South Pierce Plant 171.2K lbs
13 Duke Energy Florida LLC - Hines Energy Complex 84.1K lbs
14 Florida's Natural Growers Inc. 78.1K lbs
15 Aoc LLC 46.7K lbs
16 Publix Lakeland Industrial Complex & Bakery 45.2K lbs
17 Ineos Composites US LLC 32.3K lbs
18 Industrial Composite Systems DBA Industrial Plastic Systems 31.1K lbs
19 Citrosuco N.a. Inc 29.5K lbs
20 Coca-Cola N.a. 24.0K lbs
21 Polyglass USA Inc 17.8K lbs
22 Givaudan Flavors Corp 14.2K lbs
23 New Dairy Florida LLC 10.5K lbs
24 Arrmaz Products Inc. 6.5K lbs
25 Airgas Specialty Products-Davenport Fl 6.0K lbs
26 Carpenter Co. 3.3K lbs
27 Sewell Products of Florida LLC 1.9K lbs
28 Henry Co 1.5K lbs
29 Florida Chemical Co 888 lbs
30 Itw Professional Automotive Products 585 lbs
31 Synergy Recycling of Central Florida LLC 382 lbs
32 General Engines Co Inc 126 lbs
33 Tampa Maid Foods Inc 40 lbs
34 Reladyne Florida LLC 12 lbs
35 Tms International LLC 8 lbs
36 Tremron - Lakeland Fl Plant 4 lbs
37 Argos Auburndale Plant 1 lbs
38 Argos Lakeland Concrete Plant 1 lbs
39 Forterra Pipe & Precast - Winter Haven 1 lbs
40 Coastal an Oldcastle Co 1 lbs
41 Coastal an Oldcastle Co 1 lbs
42 Argos USA Poinciana 1 lbs
43 Titan Florida-Green Bay Rmc Plant 1 lbs
44 Quikrete - Lakeland Fl Plant 1 lbs
45 Maschmeyer-Davenport Rm 0 lbs
46 Kemira Water Solutions Inc. 0 lbs
47 Harrells Inc 0 lbs
48 Maschmeyer-Lakeland Rm 0 lbs
49 Preferred-Lakeland Rm 0 lbs
50 Preferred-Davenport Rm 0 lbs

Cities in Polk (12)

Lakeland
Pop: -
25 facilities · 13 water
Auburndale
Pop: -
6 facilities · 6 water
Avon Park
Pop: -
2 facilities · 2 water
Bartow
Pop: -
6 facilities · 1 water
Davenport
Pop: -
9 facilities · 6 water
Haines City
Pop: -
2 facilities · 8 water
Lake Wales
Pop: -
4 facilities · 11 water
Mulberry
Pop: -
6 facilities · 3 water
Polk City
Pop: -
1 facilities · 3 water
Winter Haven
Pop: -
7 facilities · 22 water
Frostproof
Pop: -
2 facilities · 5 water
Galloway
Pop: -
0 facilities · 0 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Polk, Florida?
Polk, FL has an environmental risk score of 72/100 (High Risk), based on 50 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 88 water systems on record. 32 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Polk?
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Polk, FL in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Polk?
Polk, FL has 50 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 13.6M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Polk?
In 2024, Polk, FL recorded a median AQI of 39 and a peak AQI of 105. 77% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Polk?
Polk, FL has 88 EPA-regulated water systems. 32 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Polk?
Environmental compliance in Polk, Florida is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Florida state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial