Michigan OKs Nestlé Water Extraction, Despite 80K+ Public Comments Against It

In a much-watched case, a Michigan agency has approved Nestlé"s plan to boost the amount of water it takes from the state. The request attracted a record number of public comments — with 80,945 against and 75 in favor. Nestlé"s request to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to pump 576,000 gallons of water each day from the White Pine Springs well in the Great Lakes Basin was "highly controversial," member station Michigan Radio reports. But despite deep public opposition, the agency concluded that the company"s plan met with legal standards.