Millions of gallons of wastewater released from Piney Point will cause ecological damage
Scientists say adding nutrients to Piney Point water could result in bacteria
and last updated 2021-04-05 17:48:53-04
PINEY POINT, Fla. â Millions of gallons of wastewater being released from Piney Point into Tampa Bay could be ecologically damaging.
The water is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen which are nutrients. Scientists say suddenly adding a large amount of nutrients to natural water will result in algae and bacteria growth.
Algae can suffocate fish and as a result, there may be fish kills or red tides associated with this.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that crews are working to prevent the collapse of a large wastewater pond in Manatee County area while evacuating the area.
Officials: 2nd breach concern in Florida phosphate reservoir
by Curt Anderson, The Associated Press
Posted Apr 5, 2021 2:42 pm EDT
Last Updated Apr 5, 2021 at 2:44 pm EDT
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. A drone discovered a possible second breach in a large Florida wastewater reservoir as more pumps were headed to the site to prevent a catastrophic flood, officials said Monday.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican, toured the area by helicopter Monday and said federal resources were committed to assisting the effort to control the 77-acre (33-hectare) Piney Point reservoir in Manatee County, just south of the Tampa Bay area.
Among those are the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, Buchanan said at a news conference.
A drone equipped with thermal imaging equipment identified a possible second breach in the containment pond wall that is leaking polluted water at the old Piney Point fertilizer plant property.
The drone imaging could be a sign of further structural problems with the wall, or it could be nothing. A Manatee County official said Monday it s not clear if the drone had identified something that already was known about.
A team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was assessing the structural integrity of phosphogypsum stack s containment pond wall Monday, Manatee County officials said. As of Monday afternoon, the worst case scenario - a total collapse of the earthen berm that causes flood water to inundate nearby properties - had been avoided, but the possible identification of additional weakness in the wall could be a concern.
Local Journalists Say They Warned About Piney Point Danger for Years Before Emergency newsweek.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsweek.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.