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Drillers say they’ve reached the desired depth for the Piney Point deep-injection well for treated waste water, however neighbors fear negative impacts. ....
Residents push for water testing as county eyes algae bloom after Piney Point wastewater dump Aaron Mesmer reports PALMETTO, Fla. - Manatee County commissioners have extended the state of emergency that was issued weeks ago when a leak sprung at the old Piney Point phosphate plant wastewater stacks. In late March and earlier this month, the leak at the facility in Palmetto put a wastewater reservoir in danger of collapsing. Officials pumped 270 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay to prevent a critical collapse. More than 300 homes were evacuated as a precaution. County environmental officials told commissioners during their meeting the discharge stopped a little more than two weeks ago. ....
/ An aerial image shows the Piney Point processing plant, lower right, and Tampa Bay to the left. One commissioner said the well is a better option than having millions more gallons of wastewater dumped into Tampa Bay. Manatee County commissioners have approved construction of a deep injection well to dispose of wastewater from the closed Piney Point fertilizer plant. But nearby neighbors are worried about the possible effect on their wells. The $9.3 million contract was approved Tuesday by a 6 to 1 vote, over objections that it could contaminate underground water supplies. Even though discharges to Tampa Bay have ended, there are still 190 million gallons of wastewater in the phosphate retention pond. ....