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Relief research · dataset 2026.08

Leak adjustment and assistance information for City of Panama City Utilities Division – Water, Wastewater and Garbage

A high bill does not automatically qualify for a credit. This page states only the provider-specific emergency, leak, or assistance details identified in public material.

1

Stop active water loss

Use the provider’s emergency route for public-side issues and a qualified repair route for private plumbing.

2

Preserve the evidence

Keep dated readings, photographs, parts receipts, contractor invoices, and proof that usage returned to normal.

3

Ask for the exact policy

Confirm the form, filing deadline, eligible repairs, calculation method, and payment expectation during review.

Provider-specific findings

Relief research for this provider

The notes below may document a route, rule, or explicit public-information limit. General preparation steps are not represented as utility policy.

Emergency reporting route
Utility Billing is (850) 872-3166 for account and billing issues. For water/sewer system emergencies, the Utilities Division directs customers to the City’s utility operations contact at (850) 872-3165 and the Utility Billing Department; call immediately for a water main break, sewer backup, or suspected public-side leak.
Leak-adjustment policy
Panama City’s October 2025 one-time lifetime adjustment allows one extraordinary unexplained high bill per meter during the account holder’s tenure at the property. The request must be within 90 days of the due date, the bill must be at least six times the prior year’s average usage, the meter must have at least 12 months of history, the account must have been in good standing for the prior year, and an original notarized affidavit must be filed. Prior balances must be paid and the customer must pay an amount equal to the prior year’s average water-and-sewer charges toward the bill before review. If approved, the credit is 50% of the excess water portion and 100% of the excess sewer portion. Separate 2026 temporary relief covers eligible system-caused billing errors; leak repair claims should include the repair receipt and proof of payment.
Utility assistance program
The City offers case-by-case payment arrangements through Utility Billing and a one-time lifetime high-bill adjustment subject to the strict eligibility rules above. Panama City’s Housing Assistance Programs may provide income-eligible owner-occupied households a grant covering some or all water/sewer connection fees and deposits, rather than recurring bill credits. No universal senior or disabled-veteran residential bill-credit cap is published.
State and federal aid connection
The City’s Housing Assistance Programs include an income-tested Impact Fee Assistance Program that may cover part or all of water/sewer connection fees and deposits for qualifying owner-occupied homes. For recurring household-bill hardship or federally funded water assistance, customers should call 2-1-1 and Bay County/community-action agencies, and contact Utility Billing before the shutoff date. The current City pages do not publish a direct LIHWAP application URL.

Directory comparison

Public-information visibility

MeasureThis providerFloridaNational index
Leak policy identifiedYes46%35%
Utility assistance identifiedYes37%31%
Relief fields documented4 of 4——

Coverage does not measure generosity, eligibility, available funding, or service quality.

Read the nationwide analysis →

Research record

Broad public detail found

4 of 4 fields in this section contain provider-specific public detail in dataset August 1, 2026.

Documented

100%

Primary verification routes

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