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07/06/2007ForumNestle supports and follows the EPAA June 24 forum by Joan Wolfe, of Frankfort, regarding Nestle Waters and a lawsuit pending before the Michigan Supreme Court, contains misinformation that must be corrected. As a leading provider of consumer beverage products — bottled waters in particular — nothing is more important to us than ensuring the quality of our products for consumers who choose and trust them. The key to this starts with the sources of water we use. Wolfe wrongly asserts that we withdraw "… water from a large Michigan wetland.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and her statement reflects one of the misconceptions opponents have created. In Michigan, Nestle Waters owns four wells that are located on privately owned property near our bottling facility. These wells were installed and equipped the same as thousands of others across Michigan used by farmers, communities and companies. Our wells draw spring water from a large underground aquifer at amounts that are sustainable for many years to come, and which protect the important environmental features of the area. These wells were installed as approved by state regulators following Michigan's established permit approval process. Because bottled water producers are obvious users of water, it may be easy to perceive that we use an extraordinary amount of water. To the contrary, Nestle Waters uses approximately the same amount of water used by other beverage producers in our state, including soft drink makers whose products are largely comprised of water. We use much less than most golf courses or farmers use each day for irrigation and certainly much less than most manufacturers use. Consider that every day, Michigan uses approximately 10 billion gallons of water for a wide range of purposes. Our water use at Ice Mountain amounts to less than eight one thousandths of one percent of Michigan's total water use. Wolfe is simply wrong in suggesting that Nestle Waters is opposed to citizens exercising their legal rights, and that the case before the Supreme Court is aimed at turning back our revered Michigan Environmental Protection Act. To the contrary, we entrust the judicial system to impartially and properly decide important legal questions. The Michigan Environmental Protection Act serves as an environmental guardian that both the citizens and regulated business community must respect — and should be subject to neither individual nor corporate agendas. Nestle Waters North America supports and complies with the Environmental Protection Act and all applicable environmental laws in conducting our business. Regardless of how the court ultimately rules, the Act will continue to be one of Michigan's paramount environmental statutes. About the author About the forum
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