The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Dear Editor,

As has been reported, area residents provided significant input at the well-attended city council meeting on July 20 when Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) announced its interest in evaluating Waitsburg as a potential location for a bottled water facility. Given the initial concerns voiced, it is understandable the city council unanimously moved to halt field investigation by NWNA until they have had more time to evaluate the proposed project. NWNA respects the city’s decision and has ceased all field activities.

We are committed to a transparent process and stand ready to answer questions and provide information as requested so residents can offer input, ask questions, and express any concerns. This allows us all to learn, and to develop a thoughtful approach that could benefit all parties.

If authorized by the city to resume, NWNA would contractually engage with the city on a mutually agreed-upon scope of work, to be funded entirely by NWNA. For both Waitsburg and our company to make informed decisions, it will be necessary to conduct a range of studies. These studies would also provide valuable data and information about the city’s water resources and infrastructure, which would support the city’s efforts to protect, conserve, and put to beneficial use its significant water rights - regardless of whether or not the NWNA project proceeds. All scientific data would be validated by an independent third party and shared with the city. As the project manager and hydrogeologist, I would provide regular updates to the community and be available to answer questions at any time.

While initial indications are that the water requirements proposed by NWNA represents about seven percent of the city’s water capacity, the project is only possible if there is proven to be a sufficient, renewable supply of high quality water to meet the projected demands of all Waitsburg water users for the long term.

NWNA operates 30 bottling facilities in the U.S and Canada and manages dozens of springs and groundwater wells.

We can only invest $50 million in Waitsburg and provide an expected 50 full-time, family wage jobs if the water resources reliably support doing so.

Consumer demand for bottled water is rapidly growing as Americans increasingly move away from high calorie, sugary drinks. NWNA is committed to meeting that demand with high quality bottled waters our consumers know and trust.

We welcome open discussion as the City considers its options for the future.

Bruce Lauerman, RG CHG

Natural Resources Manager, Nestlé Waters North America