Last week, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved the pumping of wastewater into the Tampa Bay ecosystem from a reservoir at Piney Point – a former phosphate plant in Manatee County. A leak in the liner of the reservoir has caused a partial breach in one of the containment walls and officials hope that pumping more than 30 million gallons of wastewater out of the reservoir will relieve pressure on the walls and reduce the chance of an uncontrolled major breach.
Check back to this story for the latest updates on evacuations, the status of the breach and the responses from officials and others.
“Not until just now,” she stated.
Especially peeved was Franklin Moss. The 61-year-old homeowner moved into the new Artisan Lakes development a quarter mile down the road near Palmetto last year. Like Ingram, Moss had never heard of the ongoing problems of Piney Point until last week’s massive breach.
“We’re right on the borderline of where they had to evacuate everybody,” said Moss. “Am I going to have to get out of here, too? But my main concern right now isn’t so much the flooding but what happens to the wastewater, and getting sick in the aftermath.”
Updated: 5:48 AM EDT April 6, 2021
PALMETTO, Fla.
A possible second leak was investigated; the state said late Monday afternoon there is only one identified area.
County leaders expected to give a 9 a.m. update
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried set to speak at 12:45 p.m.
The Manatee County Public Safety Department says the county has helped relocate 102 people who were in the evacuation zone
People who live in Manatee County can visit this link to see if they are affected by the current evacuation zone near the Piney Point reservoir.
A local state of emergency has been declared for Manatee County and parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
Florida officials scrambling to empty wastewater reservoir after leak found
DeSantis issues a state of emergency
The Piney Point breach is impacting residents in the area.
By: WFTS Staff
and last updated 2021-04-05 10:32:06-04
PALMETTO, Fla. â Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a State of Emergency for Manatee County on Saturday due to a leak at the old Piney Point phosphate mine.
DeSantis and county administrators announced Sunday during a news conference that the goal is to ensure the integrity of the gypsum stack as quickly as possible in order to minimize impacts to local residents and to prevent an uncontrolled discharge.