08/04/2021
Midwest Florida counties grapple with toxic wastewater spill
The Piney Point phosphogypsum stacks, looking to the south. The water in the ditch in the foreground is wastewater that is coming from the breach in the containment wall of the top, center pond.
On April 4, Manatee County officials evacuated the area due to a spill of toxic wastewater from the Piney Point Reservoir. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has created a task force to contain the spread; however, the spill is continuing to leak in the Gulf of Mexico and has the potential to cause more damage if not contained properly.
According to the Bradenton Herald, a local paper in mid-Florida, the spill occurred because of a leak in a retention pond located near Tampa. The retention pond belongs to a phosphate plant and is a disposal unit for used salt and freshwater, fertilizer runoff and retention water sent from Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, according to the Associated Press.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) stated that the breach in the reservoir occurred on the east side of the foundation. The spill of toxic water flowed in a trench structure around the reservoir and headed from the site towards the Gulf of Mexico. So far, approximately 34 million gallons of water have spilled from the reservoir. Gov. DeSantis declared a state of emergency on April 4, and since then, many homes near the reservoir have had to evacuate.
Wastewater being pumped from the Piney Point reservoir flows into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee, via this water-filled ditch in the center of this image. United States Congressman Vern Buchanan toured Piney Point Monday, Apr. 5, 2021, getting a look at the breach in the containment wall, the pumping outflow and Port Manatee where the wastewater is being pumped into Tampa Bay.
Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes issued an evacuation order on April 4. According to Manatee County Public Safety, 137 individuals were ordered to evacuate the area due to the location of the spill and the path of the spill's runoff. On April 6, the evacuation was lifted. However, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said she is worried about the effects the spill will have on the Gulf of Mexico.
Although the spill has the potential to cause catastrophic effects on Florida's ecosystem, the reaction by state and county officials has been rapid. The swift action of the local government and the company owning the reservoir has contained the spill.
In a statement issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on April 7, roughly 170 million gallons of wastewater was leaked into Tampa Bay. However, spokeswoman Shannon Herbon of the FDEP said the spill has been temporarily contained. The Florida Legislature is preparing to send funds and equipment to the site for permanent repairs, according to Herbon.
Although the toxic water leakage from Piney Point reservoir has been slowed, toxic water from the site continues to pour into Tampa Bay and water was discharged in other bodies of water surrounding the area.
Sarah Gibbens is an environmental specialist for National Geographic. Gibbens states that if the spill is not cleaned and maintained properly, it could lead to Red Tide algae, a fungus that grows in oceans polluted with toxic water and fills the area with harmful microbes. With the current levels, the spill has the potential to surpass the level of red tide seen in the 2018 outbreak. The toxic algae can also affect sea life, according to Gibbens.
Experts believe that the leakage into Tampa Bay can foster the mass growth of red tide, a bacteria that is harmful to the wildlife, vegetation, and inhabitants of an ecosystem. According to the Marine and Laboratory Aquarium located in Sarasota, Florida, red tide affects marine life by killing off vegetation in the area. Once the vegetation in the area has been affected, the whole food chain is thrown off, from plankton to sharks and manatees.
“When nutrients flood into marine waters and fuel algae growth, it sets off a process called eutrophication,” Gibbens writes. “Large swaths of algae grow and blanket the surface, preventing light from penetrating to the seagrass below and killing that critical underwater habitat. Seagrass is an important habitat for juvenile animals and food for everything from small fish to manatees.”
Red tide also affects humans and can be hazardous if ignored. According to Healthline Magazine, if seafood with red tide algae is ingested, a neurotoxin can be introduced into a person's bloodstream causing dizziness, disorientation, nausea, paralysis and, in some cases, respiratory failure. Researchers from Healthline state that red tide is common in marine wildlife where toxic water levels are high, and they advise against consumption or purchase of seafood from an area with red tide.
When traveling to Tampa Bay or bodies of water near the toxic spill, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has safety tips and guidelines on how to stay safe and limit exposure when near a red tide.
According to FDOH, those who have a skin condition or sensitive skin should avoid red tide water. Respiratory illnesses or prior existing respiratory problems are at higher risk for prolonged illness from the red tide. Those who are going fishing in red tide water should not harvest already dead fish. Any live fish caught should be safe as long as they are properly cleaned and cooked thoroughly. Experts advise eating clams or oysters from red tide water as they can contain neurotoxins.
