Water Quality
September 1, 2025
Reel Time: The Great Egmont Key Cleanup
Suncoast Aqua Ventures’ (SAV) work can be summed up in three words: “Dive. Preserve. Serve.” But this group of divers does so much more. Their work in cleaning up our coastal islands, shorelines and…
August 4, 2025
Flesh-eating bacteria reported in Manatee County
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health (DOH)-Manatee County is reporting one confirmed case of vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria, in Manatee County this year.
Tw…
September 23, 2024
Water matters
Two years ago, I had the honor of meeting Dr. John Bowden, who was collecting samples in the area for a study of PFAS (forever chemicals) in local waters. Bowden is an associate professor at the Univ…
September 23, 2024
Former Piney Point owner fined for 2021 dumping
ST. PETERSBURG – A federal judge has found HRK Holdings LLC liable for the intentional dumping of wastewater from Piney Point into Tampa Bay in 2021.
The discharge from the former phosphate processi…
September 9, 2024
Water quality concerns persist
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Water quality concerns persist as the city of Bradenton continues to discharge partially-treated sewage into the Manatee River.
During and immediately after Tropical Storm Debb…
September 3, 2024
Voters speak out for water
I knew that the citizens of Manatee County cared about water quality and preserving the coastal ecosystem. That was apparent when they voted to tax themselves for the Vote Water and Land Referendum i…
September 2, 2024
Sewage discharge continues
BRADENTON – The Suncoast Waterkeeper organization continues to monitor ongoing sewage discharges and spills that have taken place in Bradenton since Tropical Storm Debby passed through the area in ea…
August 19, 2024
Piney Point withstands Debby
PALMETTO – Severe weather associated with then-Tropical Storm Debby passed over the Piney Point site on Aug. 4-5, producing high winds and more than 9 inches of rain, according to the Florida Departm…
August 19, 2024
43 million gallons of sewage discharged during Debby
BRADENTON – During and after what was then Tropical Storm Debby, the city’s water reclamation facility discharged an estimated 25 million gallons of raw and partially treated sewage into the Manatee…
July 15, 2024
Settlement reached in Piney Point litigation
PALMETTO – Prompted by a 2021 lawsuit by multiple conservation groups, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has agreed to allow more oversight of discharges from the Piney Point…









