UF Collaborates with Ocean Conservancy to Research Discharge in Tampa Bay
Gainesville, Fla. – Scientists in the University of Florida’s newly established Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS) and collaborators from the Ocean Conservancy are researching and tracking the ecological effects of the Piney Point reservoir leak into Tampa Bay.
Over the past week, millions of gallons of wastewater were discharged into Tampa Bay, which could cause algal blooms among other effects, leading to the depletion of marine life.
The collaborative effort will identify where critical research gaps exist in current plans. Since the formation of the partnership Elise Morrison, Ph.D., an environmental engineering sciences assistant professor, in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment (ESSIE) has collected samples to analyze per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) substances and any other emerging contaminants. Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., an environmental engineering sciences
The millions of gallons of water pumped into Tampa Bay could further devastate an already struggling manatee population and when hurricane season hits, things may only get worse.
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When a tear in the lining of a wastewater pool at a former phosphate plant threatened to unleash a 20-foot wave of contaminated water into neighborhoods in Piney Point, Florida, officials had no choice but to pump millions of gallons of the water into Port Manatee, a cargo port along the eastern shore of Tampa Bay.
The transfer of 165 million gallons into the bay averted catastrophe. But scientists and state officials are now urgently monitoring the bay’s water quality, fearful that nutrients in the wastewater could lead to harmful algal blooms and disrupt the bay’s marine ecosystem.
3 hours ago by Cathy Carter (WUSF)
Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper say the wastewater at Piney Point has approximately 10 times the amount of Nitrogen than raw sewage.
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A pair of environmental organizations are weighing in on the Piney Point wastewater leak in Manatee County. They say the crisis at the old fertilizer plant was preventable.
The owner of a leaking reservoir at a former phosphate plant, which forced the discharge of millions of gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay is not solely to blame for the environmental disaster, environmental groups say.
UpdatedThu, Apr 8, 2021 at 10:40 am ET
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Road closures are seen at Moccasin Wallow Road and 28th Avenue East Tuesday during the wastewater breach at the former Piney Point phosphate plant in Manatee County. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
PALMETTO, FL Nearly a week after a breach in a reservoir at Piney Point raised concerns that a wall of wastewater could flood the area, the worst of the crisis is over, Manatee County officials said.
Scott Hopes, acting county administrator, said the situation is very much under control at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
Meanwhile, Jake Saur, the county s public safety manager, said emergency operations have ramped down in a video released Wednesday afternoon.