A key component of public health, environmental public health focuses on preventing and controlling human diseases caused or impacted by our environment. Many aspects of our environment, both built (pools, sidewalk, and park access) and natural (water, air, soil, and food), can impact our health.
Environmental public health professionals work to prevent disease and create healthy environments that promote well-being, fostering healthy, and safe communities by ensuring the safety of what we eat, breathe, touch, and drink.
Statewide activities focus on prevention, preparedness, and education through routine monitoring, outreach, surveillance, and sampling of facilities and other environments that may contribute to injuries and the occurrence or transmission of disease
Florida Water Quality
Protecting Florida Together map delivers statewide water quality information for blue-green algae and red tide (harmful algal blooms). You can sign-up to receive notifications when water quality changes in your area.
The Environmental Health Section of the Florida Department of Health in Columbia County (DOH-Columbia) provides a variety of services for all citizens in Columbia County with the goal of promoting and protecting public health in our community.
Services and Expertise
- Environmental permitting
- Investigations and inspections
- Public education
- Onsite sewage treatment and disposal
- Drinking water contamination response and testing
- Epidemiology
- Food-borne disease outbreak response
- Institutional care
- Rabies control
Much of the work in public health takes place behind the scenes and may go relatively unnoticed. However, this work provides a foundation from which to build health safety in our community and acts as a first line of defense preventing the spread of harmful diseases.
Due to the many different aspects of public and environmental health protection we sometimes work in cooperation with other Federal, State, County, and City agencies. If you perceive a potential problem or existing health-related community issue, please contact our office. Regardless of the issue, our goal is to provide the community with the best possible solution.
In addition, our staff provides educational programs for school classes and civic clubs in their various areas of expertise. If you would like to arrange a program please call us to discuss your needs.
Comments and constructive criticism play an important role in developing an effective environmental health unit. Your views help us determine areas for improvement, which will benefit the community as a whole. Please feel free to provide comments in person, by phone, in writing, or by email. We are honored to represent our community as Public Health Officials.