Bottled water giant Poland Springs, a subsidiary of Nestle, is facing a federal lawsuit claiming its “natural spring” water is nothing more than common ground water.

“For more than twenty years, Nestle Waters’ marketing and sales of Poland Spring Water has been a colossal fraud perpetrated against American consumers,” the lawsuit says.

“Breaching and exploiting its customers’ trust to reap massive undue sales and profits is Defendant’s entire business model,” the complaint states.

The suit, filed by 11 consumers in Connecticut District Court earlier this week, alleges none of Poland Spring’s water comes from an actual spring, despite promises on the packaging.

“Not one drop of Poland Spring Water emanates from a water source that complies with the Food and Drug Administration … definition of ‘spring water,’” the suit says.

The suit is seeking class-action status. In a statement, Nestle defended its water, saying it comes from legitimate sources.

“The claims made in the lawsuit are without merit and an obvious attempt to manipulate the legal system for personal gain,” a company spokesman said.

“Poland Spring is 100 percent spring water. It meets the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations defining spring water.”

Stanley Tetenman, chairman of the Poland, Maine, Board of Selectmen, said he could not speak to the company’s other water sources, but said he is confident water from Poland comes directly from the spring and praised the company’s involvement in the town.

“I know that the water they’re drawing from here in Poland, to the best of my knowledge, is truly spring water,” he said. “Without Poland Spring water being here, we wouldn’t be the community we are.”

Nestle has said it is looking to expand in Maine as it tries to keep up with demand for bottled water.