Welcome to the Nestlé Waters North America website for the Wekepeke proposal. We are happy to provide you with some basic information about our potential plans and we look forward to receiving your feedback.
We started the very long process of exploring the use of water from the Wekepeke lands owned by the Town of Clinton in the Town of Sterling in early 2007. We selected the Wekepeke because it had been a source of water for many years, but had not been utilized in decades except as a backup water supply for Clinton. After receiving permission from the Board of Selectmen in the Town of Clinton, we performed Massachusetts DEP-approved pump tests at the site and have reported back to
the communities.
Although the yield at this location was much less than we had anticipated, our pumping tests indicate that the springs at the Wekepeke provide moderate volumes that are viable as a source of natural spring water. Pumping can occur without any adverse impacts on the environment, including the Wekepeke brook. We are now about to begin the lengthy public contracting, permitting and approvals process with state and local governments and wanted to introduce this website as an additional way for us to share information about the plans with interested parties.
Our definitive document on this project, called the Concept Plan, presented to the Boards of Selectmen of Clinton and Sterling and others is part of this website. However, here are just a few key bullet points that we think are important for people to know about the project and which can counter some misinformation which has already arisen and address some possible concerns:
- Nestlé Waters has/does not intend to buy or lease the site. Rather, we would purchase the water from the Town of Clinton and provide appropriate compensation to the Town of Sterling.
- If there were ever a need for Clinton/Sterling to utilize water from the Wekepeke in a state-declared water emergency, Nestlé Waters would curtail its withdrawals in favor of emergency uses.
- The water we are proposing to withdraw is minimal compared to the resource: we would be using only 38% of what Clinton withdrew from the Wekepeke when it was that town’s main water source.
- The pumping tests have shown that the proposed withdrawals will have no impact on nearby private wells or streams. Massachusetts DEP and Sterling Conservation Commission determinations and permit conditions will assure that the project will not have any adverse impacts.
We welcome your questions and feedback and hope that you will see this website as another step in an ongoing dialogue with Nestlé Waters about this proposed project.
Thomas Brennan
Senior Natural Resource Manager
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