Updated: Tampa Reservoir Failure Lawsuit Heats Up

The photo above shows a crack measuring roughly 500 ft in length that is part of the evidence in Tampa Bay Water's lawsuit against HDR.

The photo above shows a crack measuring roughly 500 ft in length that is part of the evidence in Tampa Bay Water's lawsuit against HDR.

[Update 4/13/12] A verdict in favor of HDR was reached earlier this week.  They have been exhonerated of the charges and will pay no damages to Tampa Bay Water District. Read more on this GeoPrac.net post[/Update]

The failure of a reservoir in Tampa has led to a lawsuit by the Tampa Bay Water utility alleging a faulty design on the part of HDR engineering. The damages could reach nearly $100 million. The rebuilding of the reservoir is expected to cost over $160 million. The attorneys for TBW claim that the faulty design is allowing water pressure to build in the embankment when the water is drawn down. [Source: ENR: Engineering News. Image: ENR]