Crystal Geyser

Water pumps began running this week at the proposed Crystal Geyser sparkling water bottling plant site in Orland.

Conducting the tests at County Road 200 and County Road N is Malcolm Pirnie, a 100-year-old environmental engineering firm specializing in water engineering.

"The key to the test we are starting this week in Orland is to establish and benchmark what is referred to as a 'sustainable yield,' the pumping rate that can reliably be used over a long period of time without negatively impacting the aquifer or nearby private wells," Project Manager James Strandberg said.

ORLAND — For the first time since Crystal Geyser Water Co. revealed it may locate a plant in Orland, the City Council heard comments at an official meeting from concerned citizens who oppose the project.

The issue has not been discussed before by the council because the application goes through the Technical Advisory Committee for a decision.

The council could not take action or respond in depth because the comments were made during time reserved for unscheduled citizens' business.

Concerned citizens were out in force Monday night to talk about the proposed Crystal Geyser Water Co. bottling plant.
The three-hour discussion, led by almond farmer Joanne Overton with an introduction by almond and prune farmer Sharon Ellis-Conte, began with comments from the standing-room-only crowd at the Farm Bureau Office in Orland.

Officials at Crystal Geyser Water Co. in Calistoga acknowledge they no longer use on-site water sources for their bottled sparkling water.

But they are tight-lipped about the sources for the water they sell. Some of it comes from wells in Rohnert Park and Livermore, according to tanker drivers who spoke this week to a reporter.

Richard Weklych, vice-president for manufacturing at Crystal Geyser, said he would neither confirm nor deny what they said.

Crystal Geyser Water Co. officials will meet some Orland residents Thursday concerned with groundwater issues and the proposed opening of a new plant.

Vice President of Manufacturing Richard Weklych said he, President and CEO Peter Gordon and engineer James Standberg of Malcolm Pernie will have "casual, informal meetings with neighbors," he said Monday, adding "there is nothing secret about it and there are no big meetings planned."

Crystal Geyser Water Co. announced Friday afternoon that it has submitted an application to build a sparkling mineral water bottling plant in Orland.

Tri-County Newspapers reported June 13 that an unnamed company planned to conduct tests to determine the feasible of drawing groundwater and building a water-bottling facility near Orland.

At that time, environmental engineer James Strandberg, vice president of Malcolm Pirnie in Emeryville, said the company did not want to reveal its name until the it was determined that the area was suitable for the project.

ORLAND — A bottled water company is looking to build a bottled water facility in Orland and pump groundwater, and is working its way through the permit process.

A hydrologist working as a consultant for the company gave a presentation to the Glenn County Water Advisory Committee earlier this month and submitted an application to the city of Orland June 17, said Nancy Sailsbery, director of community services for the city.

She said the item will come up at the Glenn County Water Technical Advisory Committee meeting July 15.