Settlement Reached in Longstanding Water Dispute

For those keeping track of the longstanding water dispute between The Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation and Nestle, the case has finally been closed after reaching the Michigan Supreme Court. To quickly summarize the case: Nestle opened a bottling plant in 2002, using groundwater from the local watershed at up to 400 GPM to feed the bottling plant. The Conservation society sued Nestle, accusing them of damaging watersheds and local habitats by over-pumping as local water conditions were seen to change as a result.

The settlement reached this week allows Nestle to continue pumping and operating the plant, albeit at a slower rate (average of 218 GPM) with reduced rates in the summer months. This settlement effectively solidifies a temporary agreement that has been in place since 2006.

This is one of those disputes that some days you just don't expect to ever end. It has been the subject of much media attention and referenced in countless books and documentaries about the state of water in our world today. I imagine the Michigan Water Conservation Society will continue to closely monitor local water conditions to see no further damage is done by the continued, though reduced, pumping.