A group is trying to stop Nestle Waters North America Inc. from pumping more western Michigan groundwater for its Ice Mountain brand.
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation said Wednesday that within 60 days it will file a petition for a contested case against Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality, which this month approved Nestle's application to remove 400 gallons of water per minute from an Osceola Township aquifer. Nestle formerly had been permitted to withdraw 250 gallons per minute.
The conservation group says the DEQ has "clearly bent the law to favor Nestle" by granting the permit before the company could provide "real data" on the consequences of withdrawing the additional water.
Nestle issued a statement saying more than 16 years of scientific data supported its application
The DEQ declined comment.
