Bottled water company considering site in Chesterfield County
Published: September 3, 2009
Updated: September 4, 2009
The Chesterfield County Economic Development Board announced Monday that Nestlé Waters North America Inc. is considering sites in Chesterfield County for a potential spring water source and bottling facility for its Deer Park® Spring Water brand of bottled water. The company is also reviewing sites in other states in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“It is a feather in our cap to have Chesterfield County under consideration by a company such as Nestlé Waters, especially in these challenging economic times. With 18% unemployment, we can certainly use the new jobs they could provide,” said Cherry McCoy, Executive Director, Chesterfield County Economic Development Board. “We are working closely with the South Carolina Department of Commerce to encourage them to come to South Carolina.”
The Nestlé Waters facility would open with a minimum of approximately 30-40 employees and invest capital throughout construction and operations in the selected community.
“Nestlé Waters is an exemplary corporate citizen known for its environmental stewardship; clean, positive work setting; competitive pay and benefits, as well as the active community involvement of its employees,” said Matt Rivers, Chairman of Chesterfield County Council. “We will be working closely with company representatives throughout their evaluation process to assist in any way we can to bring them to our region.”
“At this stage of the evaluation process, chances of site selection in this region are about 50/50,” explained Nestlé Waters Natural Resource Specialist Lance Tully. “Nestlé Waters is engaging in extensive scientific and hydrologic studies to assess the quantity and quality of the water at several spring sites throughout the region” he continued. “If we conclude that one of the spring sites can supply the spring water needed to serve our consumers in the southeast U.S. in a manner consistent with the local environment, the area will become a candidate site for a spring water bottling facility.”
Tully added that every decision in the spring selection process is based on sound science to assure sustainability and a healthy eco-system for future generations. Nestlé Waters also seeks opportunities to be an active corporate citizen in the communities in which it operates. Once a spring has proven to be sustainable, other points of consideration for Nestlé Waters in choosing a site include the availability of a skilled work force, access to highways and the location of a desirable site for a bottling facility. Chesterfield County provides all of these requirements, and more.
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Reader Reactions
It’s difficult to imagine anyone not supporting this situation in which our community could get a combination of a good number of high-paying industrial jobs, much needed increase in community revenues and this level of a company’s commitment to environmental stewardship. How many opportunities come this way in our county, especially in this economic climate? Oh wait! Steve C, where do you live? Our county’s unemployment is almost 20%. Families can’t afford school supplies, medicines, rent and food. StopNestleWater.org should understand that just because we live in the South that we aren’t a bunch of uneducated country “bumpkins”. We can investigate the facts and make an informed decision about what’s best for our community. We deal in science and facts not hidden agendas.
To start with Nestle is not going to steal water…they are working to purchase spring water from private sources and have made assurances that maintaining the longevity of the springs is one of their top priorities. Also Spring water is naturally replenishable and the levels will be closely monitored and studies by independent personnel have been completed and are currently ongoing to make sure that the springs are taken care of. Our county (Chesterfield)has an unemployment rate of in excess of 18%... the citizens in our area that are oppposed to the economic expansion (sewer & new industry) in our county are the ones that already are financially secure or are retired and do not need a job. In my opinion this is a reputable company and will have a positive impact on the McBee area.
Having a giant corporation like Nestle come in to your area, take a valuable publicly owned resource like your fresh water, privatize it and sell it for astronomical profits which they take back to their corporate headquarters should NOT be a “feather in [your] cap”.
Beware the slick and stealthy approach by Nestle to steal your water. And heed the advice of those outraged local citizens in Maine, Florida, Michigan, and now Colorado against this litigious corporation. Giving away your valuable water is not the way out of your financial hard times.
For more background, please go to stopnestlewaters.org www.ccfsustainability.org.
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