The questions and answers in this section provide some additional information relating to our company and are more specific to the business of bottled water. If you have a question for which you do not see an answer below, please click on the Contact Us link or the Dear Bruce link and send us your question. We will do our best to respond quickly.
See Bobbi’s Updates for additional questions/comments not listed here.
Q. Why is Nestlé Waters exploring springs in Chaffee County?
A. Nestlé waters is currently serving Colorado and surrounding states by transporting bottled water from Southern California. Consistent with our environmental objectives, Nestlé Waters has been actively seeking local spring sources to supply our new bottling facility in Denver and meet consumer demand in the Rocky Mountain region.
Q. How does Nestlé Waters identify a potential new source? Why does Nestlé Waters primarily focus on water sources in rural communities?
A. Nestlé Waters looks for healthy ecosystems and abundant water supplies. Spring sources must satisfy strict quality and regulatory criteria, as well as unique taste profiles. Sometimes land owners or local water authorities approach us to see if we’d like to be a customer of their supply. Other times, our on-staff hydrogeologists, called Natural Resource Managers, conduct their own search for potential new water supplies.
Our spring communities have two things in common: they are rural and they have healthy, high-quality, prolific springs that are ideally suited for our bottled spring water brands. Our primary focus in any early due diligence phase is the quality and quantity of the springs – without those, our business cannot survive. In most cases, Nestlé Waters is able to find these bountiful springs in remote locations largely untouched by industry, agriculture, or human impact. Nestlé Waters also must protect hundreds of acres around its spring sites (recharge area) in order to continue to protect the spring source; this also usually requires finding locations that have ample space – again, typically in remote locations – for purchase.
Q. What kind of studies does Nestlé Waters conduct to evaluate a potential new source?
A. If an initial assessment turns out to be promising, the Natural Resource Manager will begin a series of studies, including a site assessment, ecological assessment, and a phased hydrogeological assessment to further evaluate the potential source. An extensive amount of aquifer data is gathered using instruments such as groundwater monitoring wells, surface water gauges, and weirs. It typically takes 12-18 months to determine if a potential spring source is actually suitable.
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Q. How will your proposed spring operation impact local water resources?
A. Protecting our springs is crucial for both the communities in which we operate and for our business. We collect only the volume of water that also allows for the needs of other water users and the needs of the surrounding habitat. Comprehensive studies evaluate the characteristics of the aquifer, existing water usage, and the rate at which the aquifer is recharged. State authorities, through a permitting process, determine how much water we can safely and sustainably withdraw. Additionally, Colorado water law requires that Nestlé Waters has an augmentation plan to protect local and regional water rights owners.
The proposed Chaffee County Spring Water Project contemplates collection of up to 200 acre-feet of groundwater annually, or, in discharge terms, approximately 0.3 cubic feet per second (cfs). The impact to the Arkansas River will not be measurable, even in low-flow conditions. Additionally, Nestlé Waters is required by law to replace, or augment, its water withdrawals. The Aurora City Council approved leasing Nestlé 200-acre-feet of water annually for ten years with an option to renew for an additional ten years. Nestlé Waters continues to seek opportunities to obtain a long-term augmentation plan that will be financially beneficial to Chaffee County.
Neighboring wells will not be affected by the project. During operation, hydrologic and environmental conditions will be continually monitored by the State Engineer’s Office, Chaffee County, and Nestlé Waters to ensure no impacts occur. All hydrologic and environmental data will be shared publicly. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has indicated the project will have no adverse impact on wildlife or the environment.
Q. If Nestlé Waters pursues a spring source in Chaffee County, will the public, and the state and local agencies be involved in the process?
A. Yes. Prior to development of the springs, the proposed project must be reviewed and approved by a variety of local, state, and federal permitting agencies, including, but not limited to:
- Chaffee County
- Colorado Division of Wildlife
- Colorado Department of Transportation
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Colorado State Engineer’s Office
- United States Army Corps of Engineers
Q. What about truck traffic?
A. The proposed project contemplates collection of spring water through two or more production wells at the spring sites, and conveyance through a buried pipeline to a load station in the vicinity of an existing truck stop in Johnson Village, where a maximum of 25 trucks per day will be loaded for shipment to the Denver bottling plant. The load station will be a small architecturally sensitive building with screened storage tanks and direct access to US Highway 24/285. The load station will be designed and located to minimize impacts on local residents and traffic.
A maximum of 25 trucks per day will transport spring water to Denver. Loading and transport will be distributed over a 24-hour period, and seasonal fluctuations will occur, reducing the number of trucks on the road at various times throughout the year. Trucks will travel limited miles within Chaffee County. Nestlé Waters has commissioned a traffic impact study (available in full on www.chaffeecounty.org and in the Buena Vista and Salida public libraries with our 1041 permit application) which showed the increase in truck traffic and associated emissions to be negligible. The Colorado Department of Transportation reported that in 2007, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) for US Highway 24/285 at Johnson Village was 5,600 trips. Of those, 540 were trucks. Therefore, the 25 truck trips per day generated by the Project represent less than 1% of the overall traffic on Trout Creek Pass.
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Q. How will Chaffee County benefit if Nestlé Waters develops a spring source?
A. Current anticipated benefits to Chaffee County include:
- $500,000 endowment to Chaffee County to fund locally-driven projects and initiatives that align with the needs and desires of local community members
- A formal conservation easement of approximately 115 acres of developable land along the Arkansas River
- In-stream fishing access at the Ruby Mountain site
- Preservation of Bighorn Sheep habitat
- Restoration of riparian and wetland environments
- Improved grazing and land use practices
- Environmental education sponsorships and field programs
- Collaborative efforts with local conservation and recreation groups
- Net positive tax revenue to Chaffee County currently estimated at an average of $80,000/year over a 30 year period
- Project W.E.T. (Water Education for Teachers) funding and support
- Local hiring of construction workers to build the five mile pipeline and the wellhouse. Additionally, Nestlé Waters has committed to hiring at least 50% of its truck drivers locally from Chaffee County.
Nestlé Waters is currently communicating with the Division of Wildlife (DOW), Trout Unlimited, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), and other local organizations to solicit recommendations to enhance the project.
* If Nestlé Waters is permitted in Chaffee County, the company desires to restore the Ruby Mountain Springs Site to a more natural condition, and plans to pursue this restoration project once it has exercised its purchase option of the property. When it owns the property, Nestlé Waters plans to remove all structures and infrastructure associated with the existing residences and fish hatchery in order to naturalize the Ruby Mountain Springs Site. A significant benefit of the project would be to restore the hatchery site along The Arkansas River to a more natural state, enhancing the riparian and wetland features and habitat.
Q. What are the next steps?
A. Nestlé Waters filed for Special Use and 1041 Permits from Chaffee County on November 3, 2008. The intent of this public permitting process is to identify and mitigate potential impacts to Chaffee County, its residents, and the environment. Nestlé Waters is working with a diverse group of local and regional consultants o analyze impacts to water rights owners, wildlife, wetlands, traffic, and other community interests. Chaffee County has hired independent consultants at Nestlé Waters’ expense to review the submittal and will schedule public hearings to solicit additional community input.
We welcome the opportunity to meet with municipal and county officials, organizations, and local citizens. To date, we have had numerous meetings, over 100 site visits with interested parties, and public presentations about the project. We will continue to provide information to local organizations, host site tours, answer questions, seek input, and partner with local organizations.
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Q. Where can I find additional information about Nestlé operations in other communities?
A. Nestlé Waters employs over 9,000 people and operates 24 bottling facilities and 50 spring sites around the country. Our goal is to maintain strong, productive relationships with each of the communities where we operate and to address issues raised by stakeholders in a timely and respectful manner. Additional information and resources are available on our Corporate Website: www.nestlewatersnorthamerica.com
Please visit the following sites for specific information on Nestlé Waters in other communities: McCloud, California at www.nestlewatersca.com/mccloud/, Maine at www.polandspringme.com (with Fryeburg information at www.polandspringme.com/fryeburg/).
Q. What is the need for bottled water?
A. Over the last decade, the demand for bottled water has experienced rapid growth as health-minded people switch from consuming sugared drinks to drinking water. Bottled water provides a healthful alternative to soda and sports drinks, provides hydration without adding sugar, caffeine or artificial ingredients, and meets consumer demand for convenience. Natural disasters and emergency situations may compromise conventional water sources and create a critical need for safe drinking water for victims, first responders, and volunteers.
Q. Where does Nestlé get the water it bottles?
A. Nestlé Waters North America (Nestlé Waters) produces two types of bottled water, “spring” and “purified”. Spring water, bottled for brands like Arrowhead, is obtained from protected natural springs, and requires only minor treatment prior to bottling. Purified water, labeled Nestlé Pure Life Purified Water, is obtained from municipal supplies or private wells and is purified through a specialized process to create a consistent high-quality product.
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Q. What has Nestlé Waters done to minimize its environmental impact?
A. Nestlé Waters demonstrates its commitment to the environment by leading the bottled beverage industry toward more responsible packaging, manufacturing, transport, and water sourcing. For example we:
- Reduced plastic content in our packaging by 40% in the last 15 years. In 2007, we introduced the Eco-Shape™ bottle, which is the lightest branded half-liter package in the beverage industry.
- Advocate reuse and recycling. All Nestlé Waters bottles are 100% recyclable. Nationally, we recycle 75-85% of all raw materials used in our plants. Our Home and Office Division is the largest returnable bottled beverage company in North America and reuses each 3 and 5-gallon container 35 times before recycling. And, Nestlé Waters partners with local recycling agencies to work towards increasing recycling rates.
- Operate the most U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) certified food and beverage plants in North America, resulting in vast reductions in our energy and water usage, CO2 emissions, and waste.
- Are already an efficient user of water with very little waste; Nestlé Waters reduced total water consumption in our plants by 7.8% since 2000.
- Employ 11 Natural Resource Managers, professional hydrogeologists, who manage the springs we use for our spring water products for long-term viability.
- Invest $8 million annually to maintain our spring water sites and their surrounding recharge areas.
- Protect local watersheds, habitats, and preserve open space, by maintaining over 14,000 acres of land around our spring sources nationally.
- Save transportation energy by making nearly all single-serve bottles at our own plants, transporting more bottles per load due to lighter bottles (which results in fewer trucks on the road), planning efficient truck routes, and locating our bottling facilities in the regions where most of our products are consumed.
QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK?
Visit “Dear Bobbi” to submit your questions and feedback to
Bruce Lauerman, Natural Resource Manager
Update 4/23/09
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