Another Action Alert: Michiganders, tell our State DEQ to stop Nestle from taking public water

I wish I didn't have to do this sort of thing so often, but you know how it goes. Here's the deal. I live in Michigan right now, and thanks to the Clustrmaps thingy at the bottom of my blog page, I know some of you are accessing this site from Michigan. If you are, Environment Michigan has a message for you:

"Standing on the banks of Lake Michigan, fishing in the rapids of the Grand River or boating in Lake St. Clair, you might get the impression that our Great Lakes and all waterways are limitless natural wonders.

In fact, our lakes, rivers and streams form a vast yet fragile network that is threatened by irresponsible use. Until recently, Michigan was the only Great Lakes state without laws regulating water use. As a result, large private companies-like mining and water bottling companies-could use as much of our water as they wanted, without any regard to the impact on the health and vitality of our waterways.

In 2006, Environment Michigan's research and advocacy helped lead to the passage of the state's first-ever laws regulating private water withdrawals and diversions. But, our work is not nearly done. Nestle is attempting to get around the spirit and substance of the law by opening a new water bottling facility in Osceola County that would pump 216,000 gallons of spring water per day from pristine trout streams. Apparently, this is only the tip of the iceberg for this multi-national giant. So far, the Department of Environmental Quality is letting them get away with it. But, now is the time for public's voice to be heard.

Please take the time today to tell the DEQ to protect Michigan's water by stopping Nestle from degrading our greatest natural resource.

https://www.environmentmichigan.org/action/great-lakes/stopnestle?id4=ES

Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.


Background:
Prior to 2006, Michigan had no laws regulating water use. Anyone with a pipe and a pump could help themselves to our most precious public resource. After we talked with over 54,000 Michiganders, delivered nearly 9,000 postcards to legislators, held over 100 meetings with legislators, and collaborated with more than fifty business, environmental, and religious organizations, we were successful in passing the first water withdrawals laws in the state.

The laws included:
* An immediate prohibition against new large-scale water withdrawals that cause adverse resource impacts to trout streams. This prohibition will expand to protect all Michigan's waters next year.
* A permit requirement for new large-scale water withdrawals.
* An additional, more stringent permit requirement for new large water-bottling projects, including a requirement that the projects include plans to remedy any measurable impacts.
* A legislative approval requirement for water diversion projects if the current Michigan law against diversions is overturned.
* A requirement that each sector of industry develop water conservation standards.

Unfortunately, this package of bills was not complete and comprehensive enough. Given the substantial opposition from powerful special interests, we did not get everything we were fighting for and the special interests are at it again.

Nestle is attempting to violate both the spirit and substance of our victory by undertaking an unprecedented water prospecting effort in western Michigan. Nestle, the largest bottled water company in the world, is attempting to capture spring water in the headwaters of the White River and other trout streams. Of course, this is public water that Nestle is trying to take for free. And, the water that Nestle is taking will lower water levels, which can threaten the entire fragile ecosystem. Headwaters are the lifeblood of trout streams and these streams are the lifeblood of the Great Lakes.

Unfortunately, the state Department of Environmental Quality has given the initial go ahead to Nestle, claiming that by draining only 4% of the headwater streams (according to Nestle's own analysis) there is no "adverse resource impact." The DEQ even said that Nestle could triple its operations, draining over 12% of the streams, without having an "adverse resource impact." Scientists and advocates know better - they realize that groundwater flowing into headwater streams is vital to the ecosystem, not just "extra" water for the taking by special interests.

This is also about control of Michigan's greatest public resource, our water. Currently, unlimited amounts of bottled water can be sold outside of the Great Lakes basin provided it is shipped in bottles smaller than 5.7 gallons. Considering that clean water is in short supply in parts of the nation and much of the world, this is a dangerous precedent for our Great Lakes' future.

So, now is the time for the public to provide input into the DEQ's initial ruling on Nestle's proposed water grab. This is the opening battle in what will be an important second phase of Environment Michigan's efforts to protect the Great Lakes and all of our waterways from overuse and abuse.

Nestle is attempting to get around the spirit and substance of the law by opening a new water bottling facility in Osceola County that would pump 216,000 gallons of spring water per day from pristine trout streams. Apparently, this is only the tip of the iceberg for this multi-national giant. So far, the Department of Environmental Quality is letting them get away with it. But, now is the time for public's voice to be heard.

Please take the time today to tell the DEQ to protect Michigan's water by stopping Nestle from degrading our greatest natural resource.

https://www.environmentmichigan.org/action/great-lakes/stopnestle?id4=ES

Sincerely,

Mike Shriberg
Environment Michigan State Director
MikeS@environmentmichigan.org
http://www.environmentmichigan.org
"