The Mosaic Co. has announced a new, limited water well testing program in an effort to reassure Polk and Hillsborough county residents about the safety of their drinking water following a major environmental accident in September.
The Lakeland Ledger reports the company has sent out letters to more than 200 residents near its fertilizer plant with an offer to test wells every three months next year and twice in 2018.
Mosaic has provided free bottled water to testing participants until they receive results.
It will continue providing bottled water for new requests within the 4-mile limit.
The massive sinkhole at the fertilizer plant should be plugged by spring, months after contaminated water and waste began flowing into Florida's main drinking water aquifer.
