“We operate sustainably, and we understand water is a renewable resource as long as you manage the resource responsibly.” Reasons for bottled water In 2015, Americans bought 11.6 billion gallons of bottled water, according to market-research firm Beverage Marketing Corp.
The total equated to a 6.6 percent annual increase, which outpaced the uptick for all other major beverage groups.
A contentious proposal Responding to rising demand among consumers in the Midwest, Nestlé Waters has filed an application with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to increase its pumping capacity at its White Pine Springs well near the city of Evart in northern Michigan.
Nestlé Waters wants to increase its allowed pumping rate to 400 gallons per minute, compared with a current limit of 250 gallons.
“It might spike somewhere near there from time to time, but it would be rather infrequent.
The fact is we want to make sure that we don’t spike Evart beyond our permitted capacity.
So having that capacity permitted is important.” The proposed increase requires a permit approval, which has led to intense scrutiny, including more than 50,000 public comments.
“We want to make sure an applicant is showing they’re doing improvement projects that are offsetting any measurable impact,” said James Clift, policy director for the nonprofit Michigan Environmental Council.
About 5 percent of plastic beverage bottles turn into litter, according to a 2009 study by Stamford nonprofit Keep America Beautiful.
To reduce littering, Nestlé Waters announced in May that it would contribute $6 million to a $100 million investment fund for recycling infrastructure and programs in cities across the U.S. “The challenge is that recycling infrastructure in the United States is woefully inadequate,” Switzer said.