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Wasserman Schultz seeks to tax bottled spring water in Florida

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March 10, 2020

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida has filed a bill to levy a 5-cent-a-gallon tax on water extracted from springs or groundwater sources, according to a Miami Herald report.

The bill, called the Save Our Springs Act, is part of a battle between environmentalists and the owners of Ginnie Springs, who want to quadruple the amount of water pumped from the springs to a bottling plant owned by Nestlé.

Wasserman Schultz said more water to be pumped from Ginnie Springs for Nestlé would allow a large business to profit from Florida’s natural resources without paying for it.

Nestlé said its extraction and bottling operations provide jobs and taxes for local governments.