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Water Scarcity

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Submitted By aleavi01
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The video, “Nestle in Michigan”, discusses the issue of decreasing water levels in northwest Michigan areas. This is largely in part due to the pumping of water from natural springs and lakes by Nestle for the resale of their bottled water. Many residents are reporting that they are finding “mud flats” on their property were creeks used to exist. Nestle is pumping “upwards of 450 gallons per minute” of water from Michigan water sources—more than what can be replenished by natural means. This is causing water levels in streams to lower and mud flats appearing where other bodies of water once stood. Initially, my first response to the video was disbelief that the state government would allow this to happen. Especially considering that Nestle is essentially (as stated by one of the speakers in the video as well) taking our water supply, treating it, bottling it, and then selling it back to us. Our own natural resource—sold back to us, without the state government or local governments making barely a profit from it—$63,000 for a 99 year least—and without limit on how much Nestle is allowed to pump (Nestle in Michigan, 2010). The possible long term repercussions are surreal. In my opinion, the government should have a responsibility to protect our water sources the same way they protect our wildlife and forests. Regulations or taxes should be imposed to deter Nestle from essentially pumping our water sources dry. Unfortunately, Nestle was given a $10 million tax abatement to be spread over ten years and have no restrictions on the amount of water they are allowed to pump (Nestle in Michigan, 2010). This leaves Nestle the ability to take as much as they want, without paying, and leaving the local residents less water for their own uses. Many residents in the area have wells for their water supply since it is a largely rural area. Additionally, the water is

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