An application to pump more water from the Ginnie Springs area is now tied up in court but a crowd still showed up at Tuesday morning’s Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board meeting to speak out against a pumping permit.

Speakers said approval to allow up to 1.152 million gallons a day to be pumped to the Nestle Waters bottling plant would harm the Santa Fe River system, reduce water for public use and is not in the public interest.

"I’m not here as an activist," said Lucy Anstey. "I’m here as a water drinker. We rely on water ... and Nestle is a predatory company."

Seven Springs Water Co., owned by members of the Wray family that owns Ginnie Springs Park, has applied for the permit for water bottled by a nearby Nestle plant. A previous permit expired but pumping is allowed to continue under district policies.

Much less than the 1.152 millions gallons a day was pumped under the previous permit. However, Nestle said it may expand the bottling plant to increase capacity.

District scientists say the permit should not be approved. Seven Springs has filed a petition with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings contesting the scientists’ recommendation.

Board attorney Tom Reeves said the hearing process could take several months and advised board members not to discuss the matter until the administrative law judge makes a recommended order.

"In that process, interested parties are allowed to participate. If they wish to, they need to ... figure out how to file their own petition," Reeves said. "I would caution board members against making any statements at this time because at the conclusion of the administrative process your job will be to make a decision on that recommended order."

About a dozen people spoke on the issue Tuesday morning, all opposing the permit.

Derek Dunlap is a member of the National Speleological Society-Cave Diving Section and has mapped the water caves of springs in the region, including Ginnie.

Dunlap said the aquifer system connects many springs and that pumping water from one area will affect other springs.

"I have had people from other countries who come to Ginnie Springs and dive there. It’s a bucket list dive — like us going to the (Egyptian) pyramids," Dunlap said. "We have an opportunity to keep it sustainable. All I ever hear is how beautiful it used to be ... It’s disappointing that these places are being degraded."