City of Panama City Beach, FL
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Answers to more of your questions
Please click on the categories and topics below to find information about common problems. If you do not find the answer to your issue, please make a new request by visiting the Service Requests webpage.
What is the Brown-Colored Water Flowing onto the Beach?
If you visit beaches anywhere along the Gulf Coast, you may notice large pipes in certain areas that discharge brown-colored water out across the beach. This water flows into the ocean and can cause some concern for residents or visitors.
The City of Panama City Beach wants you to know that the brown-colored water originates from several natural, spring-fed lakes that exist along our coastline. Sometimes when it rains, lakes may overflow. As part of its natural watershed area, this water naturally makes it way down towards the ocean. This is the way nature designed it. When it rains, it drains.
Dark-colored water often causes concern for those not familiar with it - especially to beach goers who feel inconvenienced by its sudden appearance. However, the dark-colored water is not harmful to human or marine life. It is simply stained by nature. Organic material high in nutrients, such as decomposing pine needles, leaves, and other woodland material, stain the water. So, despite its appearance, this water is safe.
To manage the drainage, the City of Panama City Beach utilizes “outfalls,” to carry the water back to the ocean safely and efficiently. Otherwise, slow moving water can stagnate and cause real environmental concerns.
Depending on the weather and the tide, the water’s appearance can change for the better or worse. The City of Panama City Beach cares about our beaches and your health. The State of Florida’s “Healthy Beaches Program” monitors the beach water quality on a regular basis. To learn more about water quality reporting, please visit the State of Florida’s Healthy Beaches Program page.