Public Swimming Pools

Department personnel inspect all public swimming pools twice a year, more often if necessary, for conformance to the provisions of 64E-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.

Limited Use Community & Limited Use Commercial Water Well 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 64E-8* Florida Administrative Code.

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 this health department. 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.

Beach Water Sampling

The Department of Health conducts a beach water sampling program in coastal counties. The Bay County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, samples 10 sites from the west to the east end of the county on a bi-weekly basis for enterococci, except for the winter months of November through February. Sample results are rated poor, moderate or good based on total bacteria counts. Sites with poor results are posted with an advisory sign and a public service announcement is issued.  Sample results are posted on Florida Healthy Beaches.

Super Act 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.