Does phosphate mining cause the intermediate aquifer to become polluted or negatively impacted?

There are three aquifer levels: Surficial, Intermediate and Floridan. As a result of mining activities, a temporary drop in surficial water levels may occur. Generally, drinking water is sourced from the Intermediate and Floridan aquifers. However, in accordance with our permits and the strict regulations under which we operate, this change in water level is not allowed to affect areas outside Mosaic’s property line during mining operations. This has been confirmed through years of water quality and water level monitoring. Mosaic’s Integrated Water Use Permit (IWUP) is an unprecedented approach to water conservation and regulation, including the use of Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), a predictive strategy for protecting wetlands up to four years in advance of mining operations. The IWUP goes beyond normal permit requirements and implements more stringent monitoring and reporting requirements, including twice the amount of previous data collection.