Hoping to avoid a catastrophic flood at Piney Point, officials have already sent nearly 200 million gallons of contaminated water flowing into Tampa Bay — an action that might trade one potential disaster for another. Shortly after a leak was detected in a pond that held 480 million gallons of water, state leaders approved an emergency discharge, hoping to empty the pool before it burst wide open, potentially sending a 20-foot surge of water into the surrounding area. The odds of that happening have eased but now the risks are raised for the bay’s marine life, everything from sea grass to sea turtles. As a former phosphate processing plant, Piney Point contains three massive ponds of polluted water. Technically known as “process water” because it was used to help run the machinery, it is high in nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and ammonia. As that nutrient-rich water gets into the bay, marine biologists and local fishermen fear it will fuel algae blooms that can trigger fish kills and damage the entire marine ecosystem. It may take weeks, one scientist said, before the full impact becomes clear.
Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article250450371.html#storylink=cpy
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