Water rights activists are criticizing the potential sale of Poland Spring and saying that the buyer identified in reports poses a “new threat” to Maine’s water resources
FRYEBURG, Maine – Water rights activists on Saturday condemned the potential sale of the Poland Spring bottled water brand, saying the buyer identified in reports poses a new threat to state resources.
A crowd that the organizers estimated to have reached about 100 gathered for the rally sponsored by the Community Water Justice to express their concerns.
Nickie Sekera, the group’s co-founder, said he is concerned that a private equity firm may be less responsive than Nestlé, relieving the company of any responsibility it has promised to communities in Maine.
Nestlé has not been a good neighbor, “but at least a company like Nestlé will to some extent be sensitive to a bad public image,” she said.
Nestlé announced in June that it was considering selling its bottled water brands in North America. In Maine, Nestlé has more than half a dozen water sources and two bottling plants, employing 860 people.
Rally participants are concerned about the news suggesting that the Swiss company was negotiating the potential sale with One Rock Capital Partners LLC, a New York-based private equity firm.
Nestlé declined to comment on the negotiations. A One Rock spokesman did not return a message.
Brands to be marketed include Deer Park, Ozarka, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills and Arrowhead, as well as Poland Spring.
Maulian Dana, tribal ambassador for the nation of Penobscot, said the people of Penobscot “know how precious and vital water is to our tribal communities and the entire state.”
“We oppose the action proposed by Nestlé and One Rock Capital Partners – and we remind our friends and neighbors that water is life,” she said in a statement.