Sinkhole sends millions of gallons of radioactive water into Florida Aquifer

MULBERRY, FL (KTRK) -- Officials say a massive sinkhole in Florida has allowed millions of gallons of radioactive water to pour into one of the world's most productive aquifers.

The sinkhole was found by crews in a containment pond at the New Wales Mosaic plant in Mulberry on August 27th.

A field technician found the water level had dropped at one of the ponds, and upon investigation, found a 45-foot hole with seemingly no bottom, WFTS-TV reports.

Since then, about 215 million gallons of contaminated water used to process fertilizer has drained into the hole.

A recovery well was built to pull the contaminated water out of the aquifer. So far, tests have not detected contaminants in the groundwater, meaning the pumps are working, officials say.