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Washington State seeks to curb bottled water activity

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February 20, 2020

Washington will become the first U.S. state to ban new water withdrawals from streams and springs under a recently passed state senate bill, according to a seattlepi.com report. The bill states that any use of water for the commercial production of bottled water is detrimental to the public interests. 

The bill, if approved by the house, would prevent Crystal Geyser's proposal to withdraw 400 gallons per minute from a spring in eastern Lewis County. Local opposition prevented Nestle from constructing a $50 million water bottling plant in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

The International Bottled Water Association claims such opposition is "based on the false premise that the bottled water industry is harming the environment."