Sacramento council members call for new permits for bottling plants

The Sacramento City Council will discuss whether it should draft an urgency ordinance that would require special permits for water bottling facilities after some members of the community raised concerns over a new Nestle water plant planned for south Sacramento.

Councilman Kevin McCarty asked Tuesday night for city staff to place the discussion on a council agenda in the near future. He also asked the city's utilities department to explore a system of tiered water rates for commercial facilities.

Councilwoman Lauren Hammond also called for a council discussion on the issue of whether an emergency ordinance should be written to place special permits on water bottling facilities.

Hammond and McCarty are running against one another for state Assembly.

City officials said the planned Nestle plant will draw about 80 million gallons of water a year, or two-tenths of a percent of the city's total consumption.

The plant did not need special City Council approval because it is planned for an area already zoned for industrial use and Nestle does not plan to make changes to the area that require special permits, according to a city spokeswoman.