It's OK, really. That discolored water flowing into the Gulf is not polluted.

The City of Panama City Beach frequently fields questions from our visitors regarding the discolored water that discharges through a pipe outfall beneath Front Beach Road and out towards the Gulf of Mexico from several spring-fed bodies of water. 

Lullwater Lake is one of about 10 spring-fed bodies of water which are naturally occurring along our sandy beaches and within the city limits. These outfalls are located all along the coast line.

When we get a lot of rain, many of the lakes like Lullwater fill up and fresh water discharges into the Gulf. This fresh water contains dark colored tannins which is created when pine needles, leaves, grasses and other organic matter get into the water and break down over time, giving it a dark tea-stained look. 

This water might be perceived as polluted by some, but it is not. This process is naturally-occurring within our lakes and similar lakes can be found throughout Bay and Walton counties.

The City of Panama City Beach maintains the Lullwater outfall and tries to keep the discharge directed straight towards the Gulf and prevent meandering to neighboring properties. This is a challenge, however, as changes in the tide and surf make maintenance difficult. The City will soon start construction on Segment 3 of the Front Beach Road CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) which will include a component to extend the outfall pipe further into the Gulf. This would reduce the area of the channel on the beach.

To reiterate, these discolored outflows are a unique aspect of our lake ecosystem. They are naturally occurring fresh-water flows from spring-fed lakes and are not harmful or polluted. The City will continue to work to educate both our locals and our tourists on this issue and would suggest that condos and resort properties assist in these educational efforts.

The Florida Department of Health provides water quality sampling along our beaches to ensure our water remains healthy for public and marine life use. Water reports can be found here: Beach Water