MDEQ holding public hearing on bottled water proposal.
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is anticipating a large crowd for a public hearing on a bottled-water company’s request to increase its groundwater pumping from a well in Osceola County.
As part of the expansion, the company is asking to increase the capacity of water they’re allowed to pull from its White Pines Springs site near Evart from 250 gallons to 400 gallons per minute.
The company says the increase may have minor effects on wetlands and stream flows but not enough to be harmful.
Nestle started its bottling operation in 2001 at a pumping rate of 150 gallons per minute, according to the state.
“Certainly we’re gonna work through this as quickly as possible, but obviously the volume of information we’re receiving both from Nestle and the public comments simply take time to get through,” said Melody Kindraka, a MDEQ public information officer.
MDEQ officials say they are still looking into if the water is going to be safe to drink, as well as if there would be a negative impact to the resources and water shed in the area.
They hope to have a decision on Nestle’s application in the next couple of month.
Box 30241 Lansing, MI 48909-7741 — Online: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality-Nestle Waters North America, Inc. permit application Play Video Play Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Remaining Time -0:00 This is a modal window.
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