One Resident's Water Issue Exposes Large Panama City Water Woes

PANAMA CITY, FL - The water woes of one Panama City resident, Mrs. Pat Sabiston, have brought to light broader issues within the City's water management system. For nearly five months, Sabiston has endured a water shutdown and is now facing a hefty bill of more than $1000, all stemming from what she claims is a faulty meter reading. According to the City, Sabiston and her husband have allegedly consumed over 159,000 gallons of water when the water bill spiked in August of 2023, with concerns it may have flowed into a well on her property due to the absence of a backflow prevention device.

Bay County Coastal received a calculation from a resident and chemical engineer with 30 years of design experience. “I know that since the City water line to the house is 3/4" diameter, and the typical supply pressure is between 60 and 80 pounds, a fully-open line would be expected to flow 13.5 gallons/minute of water. It would take 8 days, fully open, to flow 159,000 gallons. It would have had to go somewhere and that somewhere would eventually be into the street. It is very unlikely that the neighbors, the waste removal people, the postal worker(,) and everyone else in the neighborhood would not have noticed water flowing down the street for 8 days.“

Adding to the complexity of the situation is Sabiston's observation that her neighbor's meter(s) had also been malfunctioning, a factor that the City allegedly failed to consider in their assessment.

According to the City's website a backflow prevents well water from entering the City water line, not the other way around as they claim. "Backflow Prevention devices protect the City’s potable (safe for drinking) water supply line from contaminants that may get passed back over the meter from the customer's side. Backpressure (pushing) or back siphonage (sucking forces) can cause fertilizers, microorganisms, chemicals, strongyloides, and other substances that are hazardous to human health to backflow into the safe drinking water distribution system and make people sick. Per FDEP Rule 62-555-360-1, the City is required to have a Cross-connection Control Program in place to keep the drinking water safe." https://www.panamacity.gov/686/Cross-Connection-Control-Program

In a bid to rectify the situation, Sabiston has taken proactive steps by installing and having the equipment inspected (a backflow prevention system) at her own expense. However, she awaits resolution from the City regarding the erroneous water usage charges and the reinstatement of her City water supply.

Sabiston's ordeal prompted her to address the Panama City Commission on March 26th, where other residents also voiced concerns about their water issues. Additionally, complaints surfaced regarding the high number of non-functioning fire hydrants within the City, further underscoring deficiencies in the municipal water infrastructure for residents and commercial businesses alike. One resident harkened to the St Andrews Yacht Club fire in November 2023, where the fire hydrant near the structure was not working so water trucks were brought in. The building was completely destroyed by the fire.

Commissioner Brian Grainger added during his remarks that he attended the National League of Cities conference in Washington D.C. There he learned of companies that can pin-point water leaks in cities. He noted they can follow up on this to fix the larger water supply issue in Panama City.

The larger implications of Sabiston's case extend beyond her individual circumstance, highlighting systemic challenges within Panama City's water management practices. It underscores the importance of robust oversight, accurate metering, and responsive customer service in ensuring the reliability and fairness of water services for all residents.

Mayor Rohan commented at the meeting, “There seems to be problems with the water department, equipment and complaints. Ms. Smith (City Clerk), look into this for a solution.” Commissioner Jenna Haligas called for installing up-to-date meters and greater support for Mrs. Smith and the water department so they can fix the ever growing water problems.

The City Clerk was directed to have a meeting regarding the situation with the Sabistons. Mrs. Sabiston requested that her commissioner, Josh Street, also attend the meeting. According to Sabiston, this directive was not followed and several days later, Ms. Smith advised Mrs. Sabiston to call the Water Department and arrange for a payment schedule of the original 159,000 gallons of water usage that Sabiston had already said never occurred.

As Sabiston continues to advocate for accountability and transparency in her quest for resolution, her experience serves as a call to action for Panama City officials to address these pressing issues and prioritize the well-being of their constituents. Only through proactive measures and collaborative efforts can the City regain public trust and ensure access to safe and reliable water resources for its residents and businesses.