Nestlé Approved to Pump 1 Million Gallons a Day From Ginnie Springs For Bottled Water
Nestlé Waters North America was approved to pump one million gallons daily for its bottled water business from Ginnie Springs, one of the most popular natural springs along the Santa Fe River in north-central Florida.
Judge G.W. Chisenhall of the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings found on Tuesday, Feb. 23 that Seven Springs Water Co. met the requirements to grant the permit and expand its bottled-water operations in Gilchrist County.
“Nestle already bottles water in five different springs to be exact, and they don’t need this water, putting our spring water in bottles that are then going to end up in the rivers and the oceans, in landfills. It’s just not a good use for our spring water that as we all know is already in danger,” said professional mermaid Michelle Colson.
The controversial permit has been a topic of conversation for almost two years. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said the decision is a step backward in revitalizing state waters.
Activists outside the Suwannee River Water Management District today in opposition to Nestle’s application for a permit to pump a million gallons a day from Ginnie Springs. The district granted the permit. The fight over the springs’ future is part of our upcoming documentary. pic.twitter.com/V2jj8MdhD4
— oscar corral (@ojcorral) February 23, 2021
The #SuwanneeRiver Water Management District unanimously approved “with protest” pumping about 1 million gallons daily for Nestle's bottled water business from one of the treasured natural springs in north-central Florida. https://t.co/sgRpAun3oE
— WUSF (@wusf) February 24, 2021
“The fact that a private company with a small permit fee can be granted permission to pump upwards of a million gallons of water constantly is something that every Floridian should be upset by, no matter where you live in the state,” Eskamani said.
Environmental activists quickly promised to appeal the decision exclaiming that more pumping of the crystal blue waters would put at risk the health of an already taxed river and a network of springs that make up its surrounding ecosystem.
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PHOTOS: Ginnie Springs
