Nikiforuk cites the case of a Nestle (former Perrier) bottling plant in Mecosta, Mich. A local group and several First Nations tried to stop this activity in federal court because it would compromise water levels and starve aquatic life in the region. Judge Lawrence Root of the 49th Circuit found for the plaintiffs, but Michigan waived the judge's stop-bottling order, and Nestle exports about a million dollars worth of Michigan water a day. Nikiforuk says that the Nestle case "suggests that water will go to the most powerful bidder" and asks, "Can you improve a resource by taking more of it and then writing a check?"
(Correction: the state did not "waive" the order, but did file a brief on the side of Nestle asking for a stay of the judge's shutdown order.)
I applaud former Buffalo Mayor Jimmy Griffin for his characterization of bottled water as "the biggest rip-off the public has ever endured." Our free faucet water equals bottled water in quality and taste, yet many local citizens spend the equivalent of half their annual taxes for it each year.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050501/1016926.asp
Posted by Dave at May 5, 2005 01:48 PM