400 Million Gallons Of Contaminated Water To Be Discharged In Bay

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — More than Four-hundred-million gallons of contaminated water from the Piney Point reservoirs will be released after a leak was found in the 77-acre process water pond Thursday, the Bradenton Herald reported.

State officials authorized the release Monday afternoon, according to the outlet. This comes after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection submitted a request to the site operators for approval to drain the pond shortly after the leak was discovered.

FDEP told ABC7 that public safety is the biggest priority as they prepare the bypass plan. HRK Holdings, L.L.C is responsible for operation of the closed phosphogypsum stacks, the TV outlet reported.

Rep. Vern Buchanan tweeted Monday evening that his office has been in touch with state officials who are working to solve the problem. "This is a potential environmental disaster if it isn't handled properly. The Piney Point fertilizer plant was abandoned in 2001. Its contaminated phosphogypsum stacks remain a threat that needs to be resolved."

The water will be released into Tampa Bay.