Nestle's Ice Mountain bottled water operation in Evart

"Entering Evart Wellhead Area" sign near the 7 Mile Road Twin Creek bridge in Evart on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Nestle Waters North America is seeking Michigan DEQ permission to increase pumping capacity on Well 101 near the headwaters of Chippewa Creek in Osceola Township.

(MLive.com files)

Tim Sneller, D-Burton, represents Michigan's 50th House District. If you have a guest column to share, email Opinion Curator Dan Hawkins. And be sure to check out our guidelines for submission.

Tim Sneller

By State Rep. Tim Sneller

For the past three years, thousands of people in Genesee County have been carting in cases of water bottles simply to bathe, cook and drink, as the water in their taps is too toxic to use. At a time when Flint residents are living off bottled water just to make it through the day, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality should not be giving away our state's water for a nominal fee. We must protect Michigan's precious water sources now, and for future generations.



Nestle Waters North America is once again requesting that the MDEQ allow it to increase its pumping operations, this time from 250 gallons of water per minute to 400 gallons per minute at its pump site near the city of Evart. Not only does Nestle Waters already pump hundreds of millions of gallons of Michigan groundwater every year, the water bottle conglomerate is doing so for almost no cost at all thanks to our state's "reasonable use" doctrine. Essentially, this stipulates that no person technically owns groundwater, but anyone who chooses to exercise the right to use the groundwater must do so in a way that does not impair the quantity and quality of other users.



Now, I firmly support economic development in our state, and I recognize the extent to which Nestle Waters' presence in Michigan has helped our economy. However, there needs to be a balance between the economic benefit of Nestle and the responsibility of the MDEQ to protect Michigan's environment and natural resources. That's why the MDEQ should reject Nestle Waters' application until we have more information about why such an increase in pumping operations is necessary.



What's more, Nestle Waters' request comes at a time when Flint residents are being told their pipes will not be replaced entirely until 2020. This means they will have to continue relying on bottled water for the next three years and likely even longer.



As residents of the Great Lakes State and as dutiful citizens, we must be vigilant about how our resources are being used. The fresh water that we have access to in our state is unique, which makes it even more important that we carefully regulate how this resource is used. Not only is clean water important for our health and a sustainable environment, but many industries in Michigan rely on it for jobs, including agriculture and tourism. We need to be vigilant in protecting our water, from our drinking water to our Great Lakes, inland lakes, streams, rivers and now even our groundwater.



My colleagues and I have already written to the MDEQ requesting that they reject Nestle's request. I also support resolutions being introduced this week that urge the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to reject Nestle's request until more information is available about the impact it will have on our state's most valuable resources. We should not rush to make such momentous decisions.



I hope you will join me in protecting our state's precious water, for both our planet and our people's sake.



Public comment on Nestle Waters' application to MDEQ has been extended to April 21. You can submit comments by emailing the MDEQ at deq-eh@michigan.gov.