Public Notice: Emergency Utility Repair on Lakeland Highlands Road

Who: The City of Lakeland Water Utilities Department and a contract ing company .
What: Emergency evaluation and repair of a suspected leak in a 36-inch concrete effluent pipe.
When: Repair work is currently underway and is expected to take up to three weeks to complete, weather and site conditions permitting .
Where: In the median of Lakeland Highlands Road near Parkway Christian Academy, south of Sanlan Golf Drive.
Why: T his emergency utility repair project is t o quickly repair a leak and maintain the reliable transport of treated effluent from the Glendale Wastewater Treatment Plant to the wetlands for tertiary treatment.

LAKELAND, FL (June 17, 2026) - The City of Lakeland Water Utilities Department has begun emergency repair work on a suspected leak in a 36-inch concrete pipe that carries treated wastewater effluent from the Glendale Wastewater Treatment Plant to the wetlands for tertiary treatment.

The suspected leak is located in the median of Lakeland Highlands Road near Parkway Christian Academy, south of Sanlan Golf Drive.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution when traveling through the area and should expect occasional traffic impacts while crews work to complete repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

Due to the depth of the pipe, which is more than 15 feet below ground in this area, specialized excavation and repair efforts are required. The work includes dewatering, shoring, and temporary traffic lane closures to safely access, evaluate, and repair the pipe.

To expedite the response and protect critical utility infrastructure, Water Utilities initiated emergency repair procedures and mobilized a qualified local contractor. Repair activities are currently underway and are expected to take up to three weeks to complete.

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