Water in the News

Water the Big Issue at E. Montpelier Town Meeting
Extraction of water for bottling prohibited for 3 years
March 5, 2008  Barre-Montpelier (VT) Times-Argus
EAST MONTPELIER (VT) —Discussion included concerns about the impact the extraction could have on the environment, economy and infrastructure, but kept returning to the worry that the state is not equipped to deal with the long-term impact of a commercial groundwater extraction project. Full article > •  Multimedia Slideshow >

Fryeburg's updated water ordinance panned, promoted
After postponement of voting last fall, Saturday's warrant contains 19-page amendment
March 15, 2007  Conway Daily Sun
FRYEBURG—Don't dive in so quickly, say skeptics of a water-related land-use ordinance amendment that appears on Saturday's warrant in Fryeburg. Full article >

Attorney: Fryeburg Planning Board power unaffected by water district wording
Legal opinion eases dispute between selectman, water district trustee
January 31, 2007  Conway Daily Sun
FRYEBURG—The Fryeburg Planning Board will not gain any power from requested amendments to the Fryeburg Water District’s enabling legislation, according to a legal opinion delivered to selectmen earlier this month. Full article >

Fryeburg Planning Board revises rules for Wards Brook Aquifer
Public hearing on Wednesday unveils new version of ordinance
January 24, 2007  Conway Daily Sun
FRYEBURG—Will added language to Fryeburg's proposed water ordinance help protect the Wards Brook Aquifer? Full article >

Water bottles leak chemical
December 22, 2006  Toronto Star
OTTAWA—A study of bottled water has found concentrations of potentially harmful antimony increase the longer water is stored in a certain plastic. Full article >

Rocky battles the bottle (of water)
December 15, 2006  Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY —Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is still refining his lean, green city-government machine. His new target: bottled water. Full article >

Kingfield celebrates bottling plant start
December 15, 2006  Morning Sentinel
KINGFIELD—Kingfield's first selectman John Dill beamed as he looked out at a standing-room-only crowd in Webster Hall on Thursday celebrating the start of construction of the Poland Spring water bottling plant.
"What a great day," he said. "Merry Christmas to the town of Kingfield." Full article >

A Poland Spring timeline
January 2004-October 2006
November 23, 2006  Conway Daily Sun
Full article >

The battle over bottling
Poland Spring toasts approval of new plant in Kingfield while lawsuits grind out for Denmark, Fryeburg
November 23, 2006  Conway Daily Sun
KINGFIELD—Talk of putting a Poland Spring bottling plant in Fryeburg is now just water under the bridge. Kingfield has given its conditional approval to a new $60 million bottling plant promising 135 jobs to this central Maine community. Full article >

Fryeburg reopens discussion of water-extraction ordinance
November 23, 2006  Conway Daily Sun
FRYEBURG—Since Fryeburg voters decided to delay voting on a proposed water-extraction ordinance, the planning board is conducting listening and informational sessions on Monday, Nov. 27, and Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. at Molly Ockett Middle School. Full article >

Water District OKs deal with Poland Spring Co.
September 12, 2006  Sun Journal
KINGFIELD—Water District trustees voted unanimously Monday to enter an agreement with Poland Spring Water Co. to let the bottler use a district pipeline to be built along Route 142. Full article >

Planning board to host public hearings
September 12, 2006  Morning Sentinel
KINGFIELD—The town's planning board will offer the public a chance to comment on Poland Spring's plans for the proposed bottling plant and pumping station this week. Full article >

Poland Spring parent company appeals court ruling
Truck-filling station in East Fryeburg now in hands of state supreme court
August 29, 2006  Conway Daily Sun
FRYEBURG—Nestlé Waters North America filed an appeal in Oxford County Superior Court Friday to challenge the court's ruling that a Poland Spring truck-filling station in East Fryeburg needs to go back to the planning board for additional review. Full article >

Judge Rules In Poland Spring Debate
August 28, 2006  WCSH News
A Superior Court Judge has ruled Fryeburg's planning board needs to take another look at whether to allow a new Poland Spring pumping station in town.

Now the town is trying to figure out its next move.

People who live near the proposed pumping station argue it would bring noise pollution and too much truck traffic to a rural area. Poland Spring has said the impact would be minimal.

The judge ruled the planning board didn't do enough to look at the traffic issue.

Poland Spring may appeal this decision, and town leaders are hoping Maine's Supreme Court acts quickly so they can figure out their next move.

Judge sends plan back to board
August 23, 2006  Sun Journal
PARIS—A Superior Court judge has ruled that Fryeburg's planning board must again review Poland Spring's application for a truck loading facility in town.

The ruling gives neither townspeople opposed to the facility nor the bottled water company a clear win in the long legal fight.  Full article >

Kingfield planners give go-ahead to Poland Spring
August 16, 2006  Morning Sentinel
KINGFIELD—With dozens of Poland Spring binders, maps, and reams of paper before them, the Planning Board unanimously voted that the company could move to the next step in their plans to build a bottling plant and pumping station.  Full article >