Florida National Guard helps mitigate reservoir leak

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A Florida National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter places pumps at the leaking Piney Point Reservoir in Manatee County in the Tampa Bay area April 4, 2021. Guard members placed two pumps at the pond to accelerate efforts to lower the water level enough to repair the leak.

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A Florida National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter places pumps at the leaking Piney Point Reservoir in Manatee County in the Tampa Bay area April 4, 2021. Guard members placed two pumps at the pond to accelerate efforts to lower the water level enough to repair the leak.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

210404-Z-TJ888-002

A Florida National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter places pumps at the leaking Piney Point Reservoir in Manatee County in the Tampa Bay area April 4, 2021. They placed two pumps at the pond to accelerate efforts to lower the water level enough to repair the leak.

PINEY POINT, Fla. – The Florida National Guard is supporting state partners in the ongoing response to the Piney Point Reservoir leak in Manatee County in the Tampa Bay area.

Two Florida National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters and crews flew over the area with Gov. Ron DeSantis April 4 to assess the developing situation. They placed two pumps at the pond to accelerate efforts to lower the water level enough to repair the leak.

Authorities are concerned that a breach of the wastewater pond at an old phosphate plant could release hundreds of millions of gallons of water. They have ordered more than 300 homes in the area evacuated.

If you are in the affected area, follow evacuation orders and stay informed by calling 311, following @ManateeGov on Twitter or visiting Protecting Florida Together.

Florida National Guard

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