Water Programs

The Environmental Public Health Water Programs protect the health of visitors and residents of Bay County through inspections/monitoring of the following water programs: Public Swimming Pools, Healthy Beaches, Residential, Multi-Family and Limited Use drinking water systems, and the Well Survelliance program.

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Red Tide

Red tide may cause coughing, sneezing and water eyes. People with chronic respiratory problems, should avoid areas with active red tide. Seafood sold in restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and markets is safe to eat.

For questions and health concerns related to red tide call the Florida Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

For information about red tide: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Red Tide

Public Swimming Pools

Department personnel inspect all public swimming pools twice a year, more often if necessary, for conformance to the provisions of Chapter64E-9* Florida Administrative Code Chapter, which sets forth health standards, safety equipment requirements and water treatment conditions. The goal is to assist those responsible for the everyday operation and maintenance of public swimming pools in maintaining a disease and accident free facility.

Because Bay County has a proportionately large number of swimming pools, a year round inspection program is required to ensure that a minimum of two inspections per pool is accomplished each year. Additionally, inspections are performed on newly constructed pools, in response to complaints and, as requested, for technical assistance. Re-inspections are made, as necessary, to obtain compliance with current state regulations.

For more information about the: Public Swimming Pool Program

Limited Use Community and Commercial Water Programs

This program is designed to protect the drinking water of public water supply systems (residential & commercial) serving less than 25 people per day, 60 days or more per year, or those having less than 15 connections. This program requires an annual inspection, quarterly bacteriological water analysis, and a 3 or 5 year sampling for chemical pollutants. Additional requirements can be found in Chapter 64E-8* Florida Administrative Code.

For more information about the: Limited Use Water Program

Water Sampling Program

Water is one of the most important necessities of life; however, it can be an effective vehicle for transmitting disease. A safe water supply is a great concern for DOH-Bay. Health education materials are presented and explained to residents and visitors on a daily basis. Written instructions for collecting private water samples are explained and issued routinely. Water samples are accepted Monday through noon on Thursday.

Well Surveillance Program

This program is used to identify any public wells and any private wells within ¼ mile of a petroleum storage tank. Owners of identified wells are contacted to obtain permission for staff to sample the wells for petroleum by products. Contaminated wells are replaced, abandoned or filtered at no cost to the owner.

For more information about the: Well Surveillance Program