'This is major' says protester after 350-foot sinkhole opens up outside Polk fertilizer plant

MULBERRY, Fla. — A company responsible for a 350-foot sinkhole in Polk County said it will use a rig to drop equipment to map the hole.

Protesters said they have been drinking bottled water for the past few days.

"This is major. This is something that could really affect these communities. I don't think any of us know the ramifications that we are looking at from this," said protester Bruce Mullins.

Officials with the Mosaic-New Wales plant on Country Road 640 in Mulberry said the water is safe to drink.

The company said it is using a recovery well to suck the contaminated water out of the aquifer.

University of Florida geology professor Anthony Randazzo said he believes the impact should be minimal because the underground water system is vast.

The contaminated water entered the same aquifer that provides much of the drinking water to Central Florida.

The phosphate mining company is offering free well testing for its neighbors in Polk County.

“I don't think it'll have any effect on the water supply or quality of the water in the Orlando area. You're too far removed from the actual spill that occurred,” said Randazzo.

The company is trying to capture some of the water it lost with a well that measures 800 feet.

The water authority said most of the water in the greater Orlando area is not at risk.

The state's Department of Environmental Protection said it's monitoring the groundwater around the sinkhole.

Cox Media Group