Cheetah Hunt rollercoaster at Busch Gardens, FL — Courtesy: Shutterstock — VIAVAL TOURS
According to a local media estimate, the recently developed sinkhole at Florida’s Busch Gardens amusement park released almost 2.5 million gallons of treated wastewater into the ground beneath the park.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, workers at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida discovered the 15-by-15-foot sinkhole early on November 18th beneath one of the three ponds the park utilizes for on-site water treatment.
The park staff was made aware of the problem when the water levels started to fall that morning, according to a statement from Eddie Delgado, a spokesman for Busch Gardens.
“On November 18, we reported the opening of a sinkhole under one of our retention ponds to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,” the statement read. “The opening drained the pond of water underground. Water levels are monitored 24×7 and we were alerted to the issue as water levels began to slowly drop in the morning.”
According to park officials, the pond is used as storage until the water is UV-treated and does not contain raw sewage. Nevertheless, until the sinkhole can be filled, water sampling is continuing at the park.
The sinkhole is next to a well-liked water attraction and a number of public walkways, so staff members with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have been keeping an eye on how the park is handling it.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, state investigators are also looking into whether Busch Gardens disregarded any regulations that would have contributed to the sinkhole’s formation.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.