Florida to close wastewater reservoir that poured into Tampa Bay

More than 300 homes, businesses and farms were evacuated when a leak developed at the site this month

Florida is moving to permanently close the leaky Piney Point wastewater reservoir that poured millions of gallons of water into Tampa Bay while threatening to burst open and flood nearby homes and businesses, the governor, Ron DeSantis, said on Tuesday.

The Republican governor said at a news conference at the site that the chronic challenges of containing polluted water at the long-closed phosphate plant must end.