Vermont Deals a Blow to the Bottled Water Industry

[NashVegas]

Six years ago, a mining company pumped 2.7 million gallons of water from an underground well near her Danby, Vt., home. The local springs were so dry she had to spend more than $4,000 to dig a new well. When water eventually returned to the springs, the levels weren't what they once were, she says.

Such episodes have Vermonters so worried about unregulated water withdrawals that on Friday the state legislature passed a bill that establishes a water-permit requirement.

There's just one problem.

Several local bottled water companies and manufacturers worry that the new measure will boost costs and delay sales. While the measure has won praise from environmentalists, some analysts say it could violate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by unfairly restraining international trade.

...

Declaring groundwater to be a public trust, the bill aims to prevent corporations from taking more than their fair share. Enterprises withdrawing more than 57,600 gallons of water a day must now obtain a permit. (Most farms are exempt.) Gov. Jim Douglas (R) is expected to sign the measure.

...
Senator Lyons, however, doubts this will be a problem because domestic and international companies must meet the same requirements.

Go Vermont! Fuck NAFTA

http://www.alternet.org/water/83794/

[malaise]

1. Bravo Vermont

Groundwater is a public trust

[havocmom]

2. Used to be. Not much anymore. But, yes, Bravo Vermont.

Those folks are still patriots.

[NashVegas]

3. Alternet Also Has an Interesting Story About the Drive For Water Rights in South America

There are four countries in SA / CA that have legally declared access to water as a basic human right.

[Demeter]

4. If it weren't so cold and expensive there, I'd move.

It's a beautiful state.

I guess I'll just have to keep fighting to bring my native state up to Vermont standards....

[Tesha]

5. It's only cold there *PART* of the year ;-) (NT).

[NashVegas]

6. It's Not That Expensive

If you have a great self-employment model.

Winter's a pain in the ass if you don't ski and/or are not an alcoholic. You'll have nothing to do.

[searchingforlight]

7. Bottled water is another hoax that a gullible public has bought into.

Someone has to start to put a stop to this hoax. We have the safest drinking water in the world. Bottles pollute. Portability is not the issue because there are many safe user friendly options. What is the point?

[Demeter]

8. And If It Isn't Safe, Then Fire The Incompetents!

This nation used to be foremost in public health, a model for the world. We must insist that it regain that gold standard of basic rights for all: clean water, clean air, clean soil, and clean elections!

[The Doctor.]

9. I remember before the trend began, just how ridiculous the idea was.

I said, "Watch, next it'll be bottled air."

Little did I realize how large a trend it would become.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. That could be a big hit in Beijing. nt

[jmowreader]

15. Bottled air? Did you say "bottled air"?

http://bp3.blogger.com/_ldhl_BpZbcw/RcOXM9Vrd8I/AAAAAAAAABI/gyRGbjY-jYA/s1600-h/portable+oxygen.jpg

http://www.oxia.com

You can't make this shit up.

[Robbien]

10. Now the bottling companies will sue Vermont for lost profits

and probably win with this new Dept. of Just Us that America is stuck with.

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Declaring groundwater (why not oil&gas) to be a public trust

Good move Vermont.

[postulater]

12. Shouldn't oil be a 'public trust' also?

[MadAnne]

13. Or coal? n/t