No. According to the most recent SWFWMD report, phosphate mining accounts for approximately 2 percent of the total water usage in the District. The phosphate industry Area-wide Environmental Impact Statement (AEIS), an exhaustive study of phosphate mining practices, conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and finalized in April 2013, reviewed phosphate water use practices and included the following comments in their final report: “By implementing water conservation practices, including greater reliance on capturing and recycling onsite surface waters for use in the mining and beneficiation activities, groundwater use has been greatly reduced (BBS&J, 2007).” Water conservation was also addressed in Chapter 4 of the AEIS.
