MULBERRY, Fla. (WRIC) — Fear has arisen in a community in Florida over the safety of its water.

This comes after a massive sinkhole opened up near a fertilizer plant, causing 215 million gallons of radioactive water to drain into the area’s aquifer system.

Officials say the water is safe to drink, but people living nearby aren’t taking chances.

One resident spoke with ABC reporters.

“The first word that comes to mind when you hear radioactive is cancer,” one resident said. “I’m concerned. Are my kids going to get sick? Am I going to get sick?”

Although the company didn’t go public with this sinkhole until Thursday, the Department of Environmental Protection said the company did notify the state back in August when the incident happened.This is a developing story. Stay with 8News online and on air for the latest updates. Find 8News on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; send your news tips to iReport8@wric.com.