Florida reservoir ‘contaminated with radioactive wastewater could collapse imminently’ and has prompted evacuations as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency
- A significant leak at a large pond of wastewater was discovered on Friday at the old Piney Point phosphate mine in the Tampa Bay area north of Bradenton
- Waste material on the property is stored in water-covered stacks of phosphogypsum – a fertilizer waste product that is radioactive
- The pond at the reservoir contains small amounts of naturally occurring radium and uranium, and the stacks can also release large concentrations of radon gas
- However, Florida officials said in a statement that the main concern from the collapse would be flooding, calling the water being discharged ‘slightly acidic’
- Officials have ordered more than 300 homes to be evacuated after efforts to plug the hole were unsuccessful
- Authorities expanded the evacuation area later on Saturday to include more homes, but said they were not planning to open shelters