Bottled water is a huge industry, and a profitable one. Last year it netted $10 billion in the US, but there are signs that the industry is slowing. Restaurants have turned away from pricey bottled water, and consumers have returned to tap water to save money. Nestlé is a huge player in the sector: its bevy of brands, which includes Perrier and Poland Spring, captures about 40% of the market. But recently Nestlé’s sales have taken a hit.
Bottled water is a huge industry, and a profitable one. Last year it netted $10 billion in the US, but there are signs that the industry is slowing. Restaurants have turned away from pricey bottled water, and consumers have returned to tap water to save money. Nestlé is a huge player in the sector: its bevy of brands, which includes Perrier and Poland Spring, captures about 40% of the market. But recently Nestlé's sales have taken a hit.
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One of Nestlé's brands, Arrowhead, has made a huge move in Oregon. The company wants to tap at least 100 million gallons of water from a new spring near the state's iconic Mount Hood (pic). The new water source has the potential to reverse Nestlé's sagging sales. But there’s a problem: more than a few Oregonians are furious.
Nestlé's plans to tap water from the Columbia River Gorge, and replace it with municipal well water, has infuriated residents. Over 4300 public comments have flowed to the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRC), which will not make a decision until after next week’s gubernatorial election.
Opponents of the plan point to the quality and quantity of the municipal water supply’s future in this region. They are also worried about endangered fish populations, including the sockeye salmon. So would the replacement with one source of water with another solve the problem? Nestlé is currently conducting a one-year test to monitor the effects of trout that live in well water. The huge tank is locked, filmed by security cameras, and the state’s Fish and Wildlife staff are evaluating the cause of death of any fish.
Article continues: http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/10/water-wars-oregon-nestle/
