Food and Water Watch has joined local citizens as all eyes turn toward the Chaffee Board of County Commissioners who, beginning Tuesday, will begin deliberating the merits of Nestle’s proposed plan to extract 200 acre feet of water per year from ranchland in Nathrop for transport to Denver for bottling and selling under its Arrowhead water brand.
FWW Water Program Organizer Sam Schabacker explained FWW’s interest in Nestle’s plans for Chaffee County. “In yet another attempt to privatize and bottle community water, Nestle has decided to expand its harmful and irresponsible practices into Chaffee County,” Schabacker said.
As part of its mission to ensure clean water and safe food, FWW advocates for public, rather than private control of water resources including oceans, rivers and groundwater. “Time and time again, Nestle’s bottled water schemes have devastated communities and the environment upon which they depend.”
Schabacker said he has looked into Nestle’s land use application and doesn’t like what he sees. “Food & Water Watch does not believe that Nestle’s Special Land Use Permit and 1041 Permit should be approved given that the company fails to meet a number of the key criteria of these applications,” Schabacker said.
FWW is calling on the commissioners to honor assurances they’ve made publicly about the green future of Chaffee County and protecting its water resources and vote “no” on Nestle’s project permits
FWW is the second national organization to take an interest in Nestle’s water harvesting plans in Chaffee County. StopNestleWaters.org has added coverage of Nestle’s pursuit of spring water in Chaffee County to other battles against the food and beverage giant being waged in McCloud, CA, Fryeburg, ME and Mecosta County, MI.
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