$9M Deep Injection Well OK’d For Piney Point Wastewater Removal

PALMETTO, FL — Manatee County commissioners at their Tuesday meeting approved a more than $9 million deep injection well to remove the remaining contaminated wastewater at Piney Point.

Commissioners voted 6-1 to execute a construction agreement with Youngquist Brothers Inc. of Fort Myers, a contractor that builds deep injection well systems, WWSB reported. Commissioner Reggie Bellamy was the sole no vote.

Around 200 million gallons of wastewater have already been removed from Piney Point, the site of a former phosphate processing plant, in recent weeks to stabilize the system and prevent a larger breach from flooding the area.

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Manatee County worked with regional, state and federal partners to pump much of the wastewater from the retention pond into Port Manatee and Tampa Bay. The controlled discharge ended April 9 and state officials said the site will be permanently closed and restored.

The remaining water will be treated for contamination and then disposed by being injected 3,000 feet into the ground, WFTS reported.

"I’ve never been in favor of a deep-water injection well, I’m still not. But I think it’s fair to say at this point, we don’t have a choice," Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said.