![Water is the most resource for our environment. - [Image Courtesy Pixabay]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/2/28/660x290/b_502x220x82/water-is-the-most-resource-for-our-envorimrnt-courtest-pixabay-cc0-creative-commons_1860963.jpg "Water is the most resource for our environment. - [Image Courtesy Pixabay]")
When it comes to life, Water is one of the most important natural resources we need on earth. All life needs water in order to survive. Across the United States and around the world, water shortages have grown worse. Many states across the country have restrictions for the citizens to follow but it's still not helping. Water is being depleted at an alarming rate.
Water should be a human right, without it we would not have a life. Our natural water resources are very valuable to the environment. It helps support wildlife and vegetation that we need.
Without water, we will become a dried out wasteland in a few years at the rate that it's being allowed to be tapped in. As important as water is we shouldn't allow a company to have almost full total control over the waterways and allow them to decide who should be able to use it.
Oregon
Across the United States and around the world, one of the biggest contributors to the water shortages is the Nestle Corporation. They are buying land rights and tapping into the underground water supplies. One example is every year the Nestle Corp. pumps out millions of cubic meters of water for transportation in road tankers to huge bottling factories. Nestle Corp was granted permits by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to Cascade Locks to allow Nestle to pump over 100 million gallons of water of per year, according to the Portland Occupier.
Crag Law Center, which is representing the Bark and Food & Water Watch and the Local Water Alliance in Oregon, has filed against the Water Resources Department in the state for allowing the siphoning at an alarming rate. Residents have been growing concerned about water shortages affecting their homes, land, and farms.The Governor, along with hundreds of residents, has become involved in trying to save their waterways and passed Measure 14-55.
Measure 14-55 is to prohibit commercial bottling companies from taking the water, via Local Water Alliance.
California
Another example is California and the Nestle Corporation tapping into the natural water supplies. Reuters reported that Nestle Corp took 62.6 million gallons of water from Sacramento alone, not including all other areas of California.
Water levels have increasingly dropped in Millard Canyon, on the grounds of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ reservation in Cabazon, Calif., west of Palm Springs, which has brought major concerns in California and to the Indian Reservation.
California regulators claim that Nestle does not have the proper permits to take and use 62.6 million gallons of water. It is believed that Nestle has been part of the water shortages that have been occurring in the state. Regulators believe that Nestle is only supposed to be taking 8.5 million gallons of water, according to NPR.
More states affected
Also in Madison Florida, Nestle had depleted the public springs. Blue Springs, was forced to close to the public.
It is estimated that 1.47 million gallons a day are being pumped. Save Our Springs, an environmental citizens organization in Florida, has been monitoring the situation. There is a concern not just for the residents but also to the wildlife in the Everglades and the manatees who visit the springs.
Another major concern of Nestle tapping into the water supplies is two of the Great Lakes in the United States. Two of the Great Lakes have hit their lowest levels ever recorded by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Detriot Free Press also has reported that Nestle is planning to siphon even more from the lakes, but Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has not approved the companies plans with growing concern of the impact to the environment.
Profits
The Nestle Corporation sells many different brands of bottled water to the public under many of their smaller company names. Poland Springs, Aquafina, Gerber, and S. Pellegrino just to name a few. That's just the tip of the iceberg. What Nestle does is depletes it from one area and then sells it back to consumers and makes a huge profit off the sales of bottled water worldwide. It is estimated that Nestle will make $400 billion in profits in the next two to three years alone, via Nestle Waters.
The company is also buying water rights in many other countries. At the rate, Nestle is depleting water and it has been a growing concern in poorer countries that already have polluted water.The company sells it back to the people who are in need, making a profit from the natural supply.
With shortages affecting the environment, it makes it even more difficult for people to survive.
We all should be concerned about the water shortages in our country and around the world. We may enjoy the bottled water for the taste and convenience but we need to look at the bigger picture. The damage that can happen to all life if there isn't enough water is death. The wildlife will forge to populated areas in search of water and vegetation and some will begin to die off.
Water is a human right for all people and shouldn't be allowed to be highjacked by any company. Nestle should be helping more people and trying to prevent shortages from getting worse, instead of helping it along. We as consumers need to be aware of what they are really doing in order to make informed choices.
