Bay County, Florida: drinking water report. Bay County – Panama City – serves about 180,000 residents in the Florida Panhandle.
Bay County – Panama City – serves about 180,000 residents in the Florida Panhandle. Bay County Utility Services and the City of Panama City draw from the Sand and Gravel Aquifer and the Floridan Aquifer. Hurricane Michael in 2018 devastated the county, causing extensive damage to water infrastructure that took years to fully repair.
Hurricane Michael's Category 5 winds destroyed treatment facilities, broke distribution mains, and contaminated wells across the county. The water system has been largely rebuilt, with significant federal disaster recovery funding invested in infrastructure improvements.
UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in some county systems. Tyndall Air Force Base, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Michael, is a confirmed PFAS source. According to the Florida DEP, PFAS has been detected in monitoring wells around the base. The Department of Defense has committed to PFAS remediation at Tyndall as part of the base's reconstruction.
Bay County's post-hurricane infrastructure is newer than most Florida systems, but PFAS from Tyndall AFB remains a concern.
Check your water for current data. Reverse osmosis handles PFAS effectively. Our water filter guide covers options. Pull your detailed report, and visit our Florida page for statewide data.