Waste Impoundment At Phosphate Fertilizer Mining Site

Bartow, Florida, USA

All growing plants require three macro-nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. After many growing seasons, these nutrients are depleted from the soil and must be replaced for continued crop productivity. Phosphate mining begins with the deforestation and burning of the mined area, followed by massive groundwater depletion as water is drawn from industrial wells for washing and processing the mined raw material.