Contact: Robert McCann
(517) 241-7397
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DEQ Announces Proposed Determination on Nestle Water Withdrawal Proposal
The Department of Environmental Quality has issued a proposed determination that a water withdrawal being considered by Nestle Waters of North America is not likely to cause an adverse resource impact under Michigan's new water withdrawal law. Under the law, an adverse resource impact occurs when water is withdrawn from a stream at a rate that could harm fish populations.
Nestle is proposing to withdraw water for bottling via a well in Osceola
County with a maximum proposed pumping rate of 216,000 gallons per day. The
proposed withdrawal would intercept groundwater discharging to Twin Creek and
Chippewa Creek, two designated trout streams in Osceola Township. Based upon the
calculated base flow of the two creeks, along with Department of Natural
Resources studies of natural flow variation in streams statewide, the DEQ
proposes to determine that the allowable withdrawal from the two watersheds is a
combined 691,200 gallons per day, well below the amount to be withdrawn by
Nestle.
The DEQ's proposed determination is the first to apply Michigan's new water
withdrawal law. It responds to a voluntary request from Nestle for the DEQ to
determine whether the proposed withdrawal would have an adverse resource impact.
While not required under the new law, the DEQ is making its proposed finding
of no adverse resource impact open to public comment. Copies of the public
notice, the report submitted by Nestle's consultant in support of the petition,
and a decision document providing the basis for the DEQ's proposed determination
are available online http://www.michigan.gov/deqwater. Comments on this proposed
determination received by January 15, 2007, will be considered in the issuance
of a final determination. Comments can be submitted to Brant Fisher, DEQ Water
Bureau, PO Box 30273, Lansing, MI 48909-7773, or by email at
fisherb@michigan.gov.