Sinkhole dumps reprocessed water into Florida aquifer

Hole estimated at 45 feet in diameter

MULBERRY, Fla. – Tens of millions of gallons of reprocessed water from a fertilizer plant in Central Florida are likely being dumped into the Floridan aquifer after a massive sinkhole opened up beneath a gypsum stack at a Mosaic phosphate fertilizer company.

Mosaic, the world's largest supplier of phosphate, said in a news release Friday that the sinkhole is about 45 feet in diameter.

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The company said the water, which was stored atop the gypsum stack, was reprocessed during the manufacturing process. Mosaic began diverting it out of the cell and into an alternate holding area on site to reduce the amount of drainage when the decrease was first detected.

Mosaic said it is monitoring groundwater and has found no offsite impacts.

The Polk County phosphate plant is still running.


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