St. Johns River Water Management District

News Release

nr09-068

Permit approved for Niagara Bottling

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2009 - Following the recommendation of a Florida administrative law judge, the St. Johns River Water Management District today approved a five-year water use permit for Niagara Bottling in Lake County.

The permit authorizes Niagara to use up to 484,000 gallons of groundwater a day to manufacture plastic water bottles and to purify groundwater for bottled drinking water using a reverse osmosis process at its facility northwest of Groveland. The permit includes limiting conditions, such as requiring Niagara to investigate and participate in the development of supplemental water supply projects that could supply water from other sources to Niagara in the future, and requiring Niagara to implement a water conservation plan.

The District's decision follows nearly two years of review and evaluation that included a hearing before an administrative law judge. At the April 2009 hearing, Groveland, Niagara and the District presented witnesses and evidence to the judge. The District also entered into the record more than 1,100 letters and e-mails from the public. The judge recommended in August 2009 that a permit be issued.

In approving the permit today, the District's decision was required by law to be based solely on the record of the administrative proceedings.

"Granting the permit will not cause adverse impacts on water resources," said District Executive Director Kirby Green. "I carefully reviewed the judge's recommended order before concluding that the District should approve the permit."

Additional facts about the application and decision-making process, and answers to frequently asked questions, are available on the District's Web site at www.sjrwmd.com/niagarabottlingpermit .

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