The owner of Arrowhead bottled water, one of the most popular brands in the US, has been ordered by California regulators to stop taking water from some natural springs in the San Bernardino National Forest. The company, BlueTriton Brands, formerly known as Nestlé Waters North America, has been using the springs for more than a century, but environmentalists have argued that the operation harms the forest ecosystem and violates state law.
The State Water Resources Control Board issued a draft cease-and-desist order to the company on September 17, 2023, accusing it of taking water from four springs without a valid basis of right. The order gives the company 20 days to request a hearing and 90 days to submit a compliance plan.
The company plans to challenge the order in court, claiming it has valid water rights that predate the establishment of the national forest in 1893. “We are disappointed by this action, which is based on inaccurate and outdated information about our operations and water rights in California,” said Yannick Leouffre, president and CEO of BlueTriton Brands, in a statement. “We will vigorously defend our rights to continue to use these springs, which we have done for over 122 years.”
The order is the latest development in a long-running dispute between the company and environmental groups, who have sued the company over its use of the springs. The groups contend that the company’s water extraction depletes the forest’s natural resources and impacts wildlife habitats, especially during droughts. They also allege that the company has been operating without proper permits and oversight from the federal government, which manages the national forest land.
“This is a huge victory for California’s public lands. For too long, Arrowhead has been taking water that belongs to the people of California,” said Michael O’Heaney, executive director of The Story of Stuff Project, an environmental group that has sued the company over its use of the springs. “The state’s action today is an important step toward ensuring that California’s water is managed fairly and sustainably for all Californians.”
Lisa Belenky, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, another environmental group that has challenged the company in court, echoed O’Heaney’s sentiment. “The state has confirmed what we’ve been saying for years: Nestlé has been taking millions of gallons of water off our public lands without a legal right to do so,” she said.
The order also drew praise from local activists who have been monitoring the company’s water extraction since 2015. Amanda Frye, a Redlands activist who has been measuring the flow of Strawberry Creek, one of the sources of Arrowhead water, said she was thrilled by the state’s decision. “It’s about time they did something,” she said. “This is our water. This is our forest. This is our life.”
Relevant articles:
– California orders bottled water company to stop ‘unauthorized’ piping from springs, LA Times, September 19, 2023
– State orders Arrowhead water brand to stop taking water from San Bernardino National Forest, USA Today, September 20, 2023
– California regulators order Arrowhead bottled water to stop drawing from some mountain springs, MSN, September 19, 2023
– Arrowhead bottled water ordered to stop drawing from some San Bernardino Mountain springs, OC Register, September 19, 2023