POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) -- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued draft permits to allow the Mosaic Company to build two exploratory wells in Polk County.

The proposed deep underground wells could eventually be injected with treated wastewater.

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The Mosaic Company said these wells have a strong safety record with its potential to reduce the need for surface water discharge, but some residents fear if this could lead to groundwater contamination and long-term effects. State officials said underground injection control technology helps dispose of non-hazardous, pre-treated wastewater and stormwater that would otherwise end up in lakes or rivers. There are more than 220 of them across the state, according

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