Manatee County, Florida, is in a state of emergency because of a toxic wastewater reservoir on the verge of collapse.
Hundreds of families were ordered to evacuate Saturday after officials warned that Piney Point Reservoir, about 40 miles south of Tampa, could flood homes with 15 to 20 feet of water if it collapsed.
Governor Ron DeSantis said at a Sunday press conference that crew members are working to prevent a real catastrophic situation. ‘
The reservoir contains a mixture of salt water, fresh water and fertilizer effluent. DeSantis explained Sunday that the water is not radioactive, following concerns.
A portion of the reservoir’s retaining wall has moved sideways, meaning total structural collapse is possible, Manatee County public safety officials said. Should that happen, potentially 600 million gallons of water could leave the retention pool within minutes, they said.
A natural gas plant that supplies millions in the region with energy is also in the flood zone, which raises additional concerns.
Crew members are now moving water out of the reservoir as quickly as possible, but it could take more than a week.
The governor said officials were preparing for a full-scale offense, but hoped it would not happen.
