Combeewoods WWTF - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Crystal Lake, Florida

Combeewoods WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 462 South Eastside Drive in Crystal Lake, Polk County, Florida. The plant serves a small population of 375 residents, reflecting its role in a localized community within the broader Tampa Bay region. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 211.98 units and an average daily discharge of 151.42 units, the plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Advanced treatment is typical for plants in sensitive watersheds or those requiring high effluent quality. The treated effluent from Combeewoods WWTF is discharged into local surface waters that ultimately drain into the Peace River watershed and then into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems, including estuaries and coastal habitats that support diverse marine life.

The plant discharges into the Peace River basin, which flows southwest through Florida's phosphate mining region before emptying into Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. This estuary supports seagrass beds, mangroves, and critical habitats for fish and shellfish. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone.