Nestlé: Drain Baby Drain!
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Canada,
the second largest country in the world is “home to nearly nine percent of the
world’s supply of freshwater” (Rubin). There are “over one million lakes” in
Canada (Rubin). Environmental issues such as water droughts aren’t necessarily
applicable to the country because there is so much freshwater that the country
will more than likely never run out. However, with the effects of climate
change, Canada’s most valuable resource could play an effect on how water gets
distributed. It’s important to realize that many of the country’s lakes and
wells are privately owned by multinational corporations. These companies tend
to overuse this natural renewable resource. Despite this, the BC provincial
government is selling water to companies such as Nestlé Waters Canada for dirt
cheap. Nestlé, a company well-known for its delicious snacks and endless
amounts of sugary options, pays next to nothing for the water that they drain
for the bottling plant in Hope, British Columbia. In 2016, the provincial government
passed an updated and refurbished Water Sustainability Act that charges major
corporations “$2.25 for every one million litres of water [that] they extract”
(CBC). Every year, Nestlé Waters Canada extracts “265 million litres of fresh water”
and only pays the province a fee of roughly $600.00 (Fumano). It’s important to
realize that the company “is not required to measure and report its water
withdrawals to the government” (Fumano). Instead, Nestlé “voluntarily [gives]
reports to the District of Hope” (Fumano). These ‘voluntary reports’ and absurd
fees, raises some serious questions that need answers. Firstly, how do we know
that 265 million litres a year is the accurate calculation of water extraction?
If it isn’t, what is the real number of water extraction? Second, if the
company and government feel that the fee of $2.25 is ‘fair’, how can a $600
annual fee of water help contribute to water conservation projects or help to
fund any green sustainability initiative? The bottom line is that the company
is making a fortune from the provinces water supply. Yet, in return, the
province is receiving no dividends, except for overpriced water bottles that
cost more “than a litre of gasoline” (Fumano). The question that the residents
of BC should be asking themselves is, why are we letting this happen?
References:
Fumano, Dan. “Aug. 14,
2013: Nestlé Tapping B.C. Water for Free; Company Takes 265 Million Litres
Annually.” Www.theprovince.com, www.theprovince.com/2013 nestlé tapping water
free company takes million litres annually/10175100/story.html
Rubin, Jeff. “Water:
Canada's Most Valuable Resource.” The Globe and Mail, The Globe and Mail, 29
Apr. 2018, www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/water-canadas-most-valuable-resource/article1391659/.
“Nestlé Getting B.C.
Water Too Cheaply, Says NDP | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 20 Feb.
2015, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nestlé-b-c-water-deal-too-cheap-says-ndp-1.2964709.
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