White Springs, Fla.-A giant sinkhole opened at one of PotashCorp’s White Springs phosphate processing plants in North Florida on Dec. 10, and an estimated 84 million gallons of highly acidic water drained into the ground. The company said it immediately reported the incident at the Swift Creek Chemical complex to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Although initial testing of nearby wells revealed no signs of contamination, monitoring was being conducted to determine whether the contaminated water reached the Floridan Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water to North and Central Florida. PotashCorp owns most of the land surrounding the stack, but wells of nearby residents were also being tested. The area around the 100-by-40-foot sinkhole was sealed off, although work at the complex was continuing. Testing of the ground water for signs of radioactivity, arsenic, and sulfates will take additional time, officials said. If contamination is found, the company will provide clean water to those affected. Sinkholes occur when acidic water dissolves limestone, which forms the underground structure of much of the state. “We are continuing to monitor water quality in the affected area, and are keeping area residents advised of our progress in managing this event,” the company said.
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