Second leak found at reservoir amid fears of ‘catastrophic’ collapse that could release 20ft wall of polluted water
A SECOND potential leak at the Florida reservoir set to leak millions of gallons of water is being investigated after it was identified by a drone.
Hundreds of households surrounding the Piney Point Reservoir in Tampa have been evacuated as fears continue that a “catastrophic” collapse of the structure could release a 20ft wall of polluted water crashing through homes.
Now the 77-acre pond, which sits on a toxic stack of phosphogypsum and nitrogen, could have a second breach.
An infrared drone was sent to survey the reservoir from above, when it detected indicators of another puncture.
Despite the worrying revelation, Manatee County Public Safety Director, Jacob Saur, tried to reassure locals that: “the Army Corps of Engineers, new engineers from the (Florida) Department of Environmental Protection are back out at the site now and they are reassessing that.”
He revealed the second aperture was only identified by the thermal drone camera because the temperature of the water in the area of the breach was different.
Florida Rep Vern Buchanan revealed yesterday he was becoming increasingly “concerned” about the leak that threatens to flood locals and wildlife with billions of liters of contaminated water.
“To see the water spewing out, it looked pretty contaminated to me. I continue to be concerned about this.
“I want the best and the brightest on the ground. It’s something that could have been dealt with over the years,” he said.
The prospect of an estimated 300 million gallons of wastewater pouring out of the ruptured reservoir has even saw inmates from the Manatee County Jail moved to a safe location in case of flooding.
But Buchanan continued, “I think we are making some progress. This is something that has been going on too long. Now, I think everybody is focused on this.”
Some local residents have complained the huge leak was inevitable for years, as authorities “didn’t fix it”.
Local Bill Schafer, who has consistently followed Piney Point’s containment issues, told the Herald Tribune: “It’s leaked before and they didn’t fix it.”
Officials attempt to plug the initial breach with rocks and other materials on Friday was unsuccessful, seeing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declare a state of emergency on Saturday.
After a text alert was delivered to locals instructing them to evacuate, DeSantis explained: “What we are looking at now is trying to prevent and respond to, if need be, a real catastrophic flood situation.”
Teams are working around the clock and pumping out water from the tainted pond at a rate of 33 million gallons per day, and redirecting it into the nearby Tampa Bay.
Environmental groups are up in arms about the distribution of the water that stores phosphogypsum, the solid radioactive byproduct from manufacturing fertilizer.
Although authorities maintain it is not radioactive, EPA warned the increased levels of nitrogen in the water causes algae to grow faster, killing fish.
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Humans in contact with the polluted waters or consuming the contaminated fish could also be harmed by the chemical-filled water.
Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said: “This environmental disaster is made worse by the fact it was entirely foreseeable and preventable.
“With 24 more phosphogypsum stacks storing more than 1 billion tons of this dangerous, radioactive waste in Florida, the EPA needs to step in right now.”