Water and Related News Poland Spring permit: upheld Supreme Court supports LURC ruling on aquifer
Sun Journal, July 16, 2008
FARMINGTON - The state's highest court affirmed a Franklin County Superior Court's decision to uphold state land regulators' permitting of a commercial groundwater extraction station in Dallas Plantation.
The War over Water
The Wire, July 10, 2008
The battle to protect regional groundwater from corporate pumping took a curious turn recently when USA Springs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Folks at Save Our Groundwater were cautiously optimistic about the development, but they’re not getting their hopes up too high. The grassroots, volunteer organization has been fighting USA Springs for the better part of seven years, and it’s hard to say what will happen next.
Nestlé water plant? Not in our town, Enumclaw says Seattle Times, July 10, 2008
Last spring, in the small town of Enumclaw, a company came calling. What it wanted was water. One hundred million gallons a year, to be precise.
A word to the water wise
Well known in Canada for a variety of causes, Maude Barlow has become the Al Gore of the water world
Edmonton Sun, July 6, 2008
Maude Barlow is a surprisingly soft-spoken, humble presence. After reading her book Blue Covenant -- 218 pages of water scarcity stats that will scare the beejeezus out of you -- I'm half expecting to meet a Joan of Arc-hetype crusader, riding high atop a ridge on horseback, eyes darting wildly below for aquatic injustices.
Bottling plant looks to Orting after snubbing by Enumclaw
The News Tribune, July 6, 2008
The City of Enumclaw has upped the ante on what it means to be a “green-friendly” community by rejecting a bid by a Nestle corporation to build a 100 million-gallon water bottle plant there.
Proposed Nevada water pipeline project imperil communities, lifestyles
The Salt Lake Tribune, July 3, 2008
BAKER, Nev. - On moonless nights here in the Utah-Nevada borderlands of Snake Valley, the naked eye can see five planets, countless stars and the great swath of the Milky Way.
Climb the hill to Great Basin National Park and you can see the the nighttime glow of Las Vegas, whose leaders say their sprawling city must have the water under Snake Valley - or wither and die. And they are coming for it, making plans for a 285-mile pipeline to tap the aquifer that stretches from Salt Lake City to Death Valley to take the water south.
Marketing 'juggernaut' creating flood of bottled water: author
ABC News, July 3, 2008 Audio: US journo dives into bottled water industry 'coup' (The World Today)
It is one of the most remarkable marketing coups of the last quarter of a century- the explosion in bottled water sales in a country where a safer, better tasting alternative is available for a fraction of the cost on tap. The Unbottled Truth About Bottled Water Jobs
The $60 billion global bottled water industry has grown rapidly in recent years. To keep up with the expanding market, corporations are looking for new water sources. Once they identify good or easy targets, they come into communities, bottle their water, slap a corporate logo on it and sell it to stores across the country. The profits are great and the resource is cheap. The corporations benefit. The communities don’t.
Why the Oil Industry Benefits from Bottled Water Sales Polaris Institute, June 26, 2008
Most people know of Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon, ConocoPhillips and British Petroleum as some of the world's biggest oil companies. These corporations are synonymous with gasoline, motor oil and environmental degradation.
City gives thumbs down to Nestle Ecumclaw Courier-Herald, June 25, 2008
Perhaps the shortest committee meeting in Enumclaw City Council history had a packed house cheering and clapping. An ad hoc committee of the council had been appointed to study a proposal that would allow the giant Nestlé corporation to draw Enumclaw's natural spring water
and build a bottling plant in the city.
Kennebunk, Maine citizens reject Nestle contract proposal June 22, 2008
Bottled water is suffering 'backlash'
The Associated Press, June 19, 2008
Now that a day's worth of bottled water — the recommended 64 ounces — costs hundreds to thousands of dollars a year, depending on the brand, more people are opting for H2O straight from the sink.
Bottlemania
Forbes Magazine, June 19, 2008
In 2003, operatives for the Earth Liberation Front placed four incendiary devices inside a pump station in Michigan that supplied water to a Nestlé bottling plant. The devices failed to ignite, but ELF made its point: The substation was "stealing water," the group stated in a communique. Clean water, it continued, "is one of the most fundamental necessities, and no one can be allowed to privatize it, commodify it, and try and sell it back to us."
Drought drains resources from local farmers
Siskiyou Daily News, June 12, 2008
YREKA – Siskiyou County farmers will have real concerns as a dry winter has caused a shortage of water.
Governor Schwarzenegger recently proclaimed a statewide drought after two years of below- average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and the largest court-ordered restrictions on water transfers in state history.
However, local farmers may not have to worry about their water being transferred to help Southern California.
Water Restoration Act May Lead to Privatization of Water Supply
Natural News, June 19, 2008
By Barbara L. Minton
The fate of the nation's water supply is under debate as hearings in the House and Senate begin on the Water Restoration Act of 2007. Opponents claim this Act threatens to greatly expand the Federal Government's roll in water management. This Act would define waters of the U.S. as "all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams) mudflats, sand flats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing". In other words, this bill will give the federal government total control of the most basic of all commodities necessary to life on this earth.
How Corporations Drain Our Aquifers for Profit (Part 1)
Natural News, June 11, 2008
A modern water war is raging in the tiny town of McCloud, California, snuggled at the base of Mt. Shasta. The enormous conglomerate, Nestlé, managed to extort a contract with the financially strapped town's board members. They were so broke that they couldn't afford an attorney to help guide them through the process.
How Corporations Drain Our Aquifers for Profit (Part 2)
Natural News, June 11, 2008
McCloud is not the only town under duress and Nestlé is not the only corporation waging war over this precious resource that actually belongs to the people.
State giving away massive amounts of shrinking water supplies to corporate interests
Michigan Messenger, June 10, 2008
Felton, Calif., is a town hidden among the coastal redwoods in the mountains outside Santa Cruz. Past the verdant state park, across the railroad track and down a steep hillside, you will find the best natural swimming hole I've ever had the pleasure of jumping into. Felton Prevails in Six-Year Fight to Acquire Water System from Cal-Am and RWE
Bay Area IndyMedia, June 9, 2008
FELTON, California -- The community of Felton, California today prevailed in its six-year fight to acquire its water system from California-American Water, a subsidiary of the German multinational corporation RWE. Cal-Am and the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) announced a purchase agreement today, less than a week before the planned start of an eminent domain trial where a jury would have set the value of the water system.
Study shows diesel fumes' link to heart, lung diseases
India Edunet News, June 9, 2008
The adverse effects of diesel fumes on health, especially for individuals who already have lung or heart disease, have been proven anew by a recent study. The study, by researchers at Umea University, looked at the effect of diesel exhaust on healthy individuals and those having Chronic Obstructive Lung (COL) disease and coronary disease with coronary artery atherosclerosis.
Schwarzenegger hopes drought decree is wake-up call
Sacramento Bee, June 5, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared Wednesday that California is in a drought, a move that included no immediate conservation orders but may lead to more aggressive water-saving efforts in many parts of the state.
Bottling plant factions ready for next steps
Mt. Shasta News, June 4, 2008 Nestle Waters of North America followed up on its recently announced decision to scale back the size and water usage at the proposed water bottling plant in McCloud by reiterating its support for new contract negotiations with the McCloud Community Services District.
Nestle will conduct multi-year scientific studies in McCloud
Siskiyou Daily News, June 4, 2008
MCCLOUD - Nestle Waters will engage the McCloud community and conduct impact studies before they move forward, according to a recent press release from Nestle Waters North America (NWNA).
Nestlé will hold meetings on smaller McCloud plant
Record Searchlight, June 3, 2008
Nestlé Waters North America announced more details Monday about its plans for community forums, scientific studies and new contract negotiations for the water bottling plant it proposes for McCloud.
Hydrology and biological studies are scheduled to begin this month and include a two- to three-year evaluation. Other studies on air quality, traffic conditions, hazardous materials and the potential impact of climate change on water supply will begin later this summer. Afterward, a draft environmental impact report will be provided.
Nestlé recently announced it will scale back previous plans for the plant by about 60 percent. On Monday, the business reiterated its support for new contract negotiations with the McCloud Community Services District, Nestlé project manager Dave Palais said.
Beginning this summer, the company will announce and host public meetings on the proposed McCloud plant. A series of workshops will address water resources and biology, air quality and truck traffic, and historical preservation to help shape the project, a new contract and draft EIR, Palais said.
Protect Our Waters Coalition Sees Planned Nestlé Studies, Community Engagement Approach for Revised McCloud Project as Good News McCloud, Calif., June 3, 2008 – After years of battling the proposed Nestlé water bottling plant in McCloud, CA, the Protect Our Waters Coalition (POW) announced today that it is optimistic about Nestlé Waters North America’s (Nestlé’s Waters) recent announcement that the company intends to begin negotiations this year with the McCloud Community Services District (MCSD) on a new contract to replace its 2003 contract with the MCSD, and will undertake additional scientific research on their proposed scaled-back water-bottling project in McCloud, California.
Dawn of a Thirsty Century
BBC News, June 2, 2008
The amount of water in the world is limited. The human race, and the other species which share the planet, cannot expect an infinite supply. Water covers about two-thirds of the Earth's surface, admittedly. But most is too salty for use.
Water Activists Slay Corporate Behemoth: Food & Water Watch Applauds Felton, CA’s Victory to Control Water Resources
WASHINGTON, DC - June 2 - After six years of political and legal battles, the town of Felton, California has prevailed in efforts to acquire its water system from California-American Water, which was until recently, a subsidiary of the German multi-national corporation RWE. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District will purchase the water system, which includes 250 acres of forested watershed land, for $10.5 million and take control of the $2.9 million loan residents have been paying for a new water treatment plant.
MWC Update Community groups challenge McCloud Community Services District Board on legality of Water System Master Plan
January 28, 2008
On January 16, 2008, attorneys for California Trout, Trout Unlimited, and the McCloud Watershed Council delivered an 18-page letter to the McCloud Community Services District Board questioning the legality of the Board's approval of a Water System Master Plan (WSMP). The letter cautioned that the WSMP was adopted in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in part because it appears to be closely related to the Nestle Water Bottling Plant Project currently undergoing environmental review.
Community groups challenge McCloud Community Services District Board on legality of Water System Master Plan