Possibilities of a second leak in the Piney Point wastewater reservoir in Florida have been ruled out by Engineers on Monday. 

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said experts were “on-site today evaluating conditions and determined the site was safe to continue work,” reported AFP. 

Earlier, Jake Saur, public safety director in Manatee County in the west of the state had said, “An infrared drone identified a signature that could indicate a second breach.”

The breach threatened to flood nearby homes with millions of gallons of contaminated water. Up to 300 households have already been put under mandatory evacuation orders after the first leak was discovered, reported AFP. 

Also Read: Florida Governor visits Piney Point following wastewater leak emergency

Assisted by the Florida National Guard, approximately 33 million gallons of water is being pumped out of the reservoir by emergency workers per day. 

Florida governor Rob DeSantis declared a state of emergency earlier to divert federal resources to provide aid and tackle the emergency. 

At the risk of serious environmental degradation, the toxic wastewater is being released into Tampa Bay. This being done to avoid a “catastrophic” flood. As per the governor, the wastewater consists of higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorous.  

Environmental groups fear that the release of such a large amount of nutrient-rich water into the ocean may trigger a lethal algal bloom or “red tide” capable of suffocating fish and aquatic life, reported AFP. 

Also Read: Manatee County: Emergency declared by Florida Governor amid health concerns

Vern Buchanan, a Republican Congressman from Florida called on the Environmental Protection Agency to step in because the crisis was “very concerning”. 

Some prisoners from a county prison have been bussed to an undisclosed location, while some others were moved to higher floors in the building, reported AFP.