Dive Brief:
- Nestle is facing an onslaught of bad press following news that it is pumping millions of gallons of water out of drought-stricken California.
- At issue is a Nestle pumping plant built on the reservation of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
- According to an investigation by the Desert Sun newspaper, Nestle's Arrowhead and Pure Life brands are able to avoid most regulatory oversight because the Morongo lands are exempt from much of U.S. law.
Dive Insight:
As the story about the Morongo plant outside tiny Cabazon, CA, spreads, Nestle Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmanthe told reporters that the world was "running out of water," and that politicians needed to address the crisis.
Nestle Waters responded to the news with a statement, saying: "We proudly conduct our business in an environmentally responsible manner that focuses on water and energy conservation. Our sustainable operations are specifically designed and managed to prevent adverse impacts to local area groundwater resources, particularly in light of California’s drought conditions over the past three years."