In April 2003, due to excessive heavy rains, the approaching hurricane season and the increasing level of wastewater in the stacks -- the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency permit to the Department allowing the agency to remove and transport up to 534.7 million gallons of treated wastewater from Piney Point. The dispersement took place over wide areas in the Gulf of Mexico covering 1.7 miles. The dispersal took place to prevent a potentially disasterous spill from the stacks into Tampa Bay.

In July 2003, the Department began removing the treated water and dispersing it into the Gulf.

For the next five months, the New York, a 7.5 million gallon barge traveled over the Gulf waters gradually and safely dispersing the treated water over a 1.7 million acre-area at depths greater than 200 meters and between 46 and 120 miles offshore.

Reverse osmosis was also used to treat water which was removed from the site and reused at other wastewater facilities.

In October, the Department secured another vessel to assist with the dispersal and accelerate the removal of the water from the stacks.

The dispersal was closely monitored by scientists who measured water quality and used satellite imagery to ensure the safety of the marine environment.

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