Mosaic to spend $70 million to repair Polk County sinkhole – ABC Action News

Mulberry, Fla. - Mosaic hosted an on-site review Thursday of the remediation process at a sinkhole at its New Wales facility.

The sinkhole, roughly 152 feet across at its widest point and 220 feet deep, is one of the largest in the state. It opened in late August and sent 215-million gallons of radioactive water into an underground aquifer.

On Thursday, the media got an up-close look at the sinkhole and the progress crews are making to fill it. The review involved a briefing on the progress of remediation activities and a tour of the site.

Representatives on site told ABC Action News that Mosaic expects to spend $70 million to fill the hole and clean the water.

Up here at the base of the toxic sinkhole. It's like a little community up here. Crazy sight. @abcactionnews pic.twitter.com/0zGxvn0Iea

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Earlier this month, workers started pumping a concrete-like mixture into the ground as part of the stabilizing phase. Crews will pump enough concrete to fill 7 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Mosaic hopes to have work complete by rainy season, which in Florida typically starts in May.

The sinkhole sounded alarms for people living in and around the area who were concerned contaminated water may have leaked into their well water systems. All testing done on the wells, however, has come back negative.

The state has ordered regular well testing through 2018.

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Mosaic to spend $70 million to repair Polk County sinkhole - ABC Action News