Afton officials warn residents to be wary of companies wanting spring water
City officials in Afton are warning residents that it’s illegal to sell spring water for commercial gain after hearing reports that companies had sent fliers to homeowners asking if they had natural springs on their properties.
Mayor Bill Palmquist said he had heard from several residents who had received mailers from companies that want to bottle spring water in the area. He addressed the issue in the city’s latest newsletter.
“Extracting, hauling and/or processing spring water for commercial use is not an allowed use in an agricultural or residential zone,” Palmquist wrote. “We want to make sure that everyone involved knows the ordinance restrictions before taking any action that could result in issues down the road.”
Afton City Council member Lucia Wroblewski said she received a mailing several weeks ago from the Rolling Hills Springs Co., based in Linton, Ind.
“Do you have a natural spring on your property?” the mailing stated. “We are looking for landowners to utilize the natural springs of the Midwest. We would like to hear from you and discuss … how we work with landowners to turn extra runoff from their spring into extra income.”
The spring, according to the company materials, would be used to supply “fresh spring water to the world.” Suitable springs would have water coming to the surface naturally, run year round, run during dry conditions, never freeze, have continuous flow and have a flow that doesn’t increase with rain, according to Rolling Hills.
“I don’t believe I have a spring on my property, but there are people around me who do,” Wroblewski said. “I am concerned that our precious water resources might be taken from us for commercial use to another state. We need to make sure we protect all of our water and make sure we have enough in our aquifers.”
Officials from Rolling Hills did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Permit required?
Anyone who withdraws more than 10,000 gallons of water per day or 1 million gallons per year in Minnesota must obtain a water-appropriations permit from the Department of Natural Resources, said Randall Doneen, conservation assistance and regulation section manager in the ecological and water resources division of the DNR.
“Minnesota benefits from a robust water resource, but it isn’t infinite,” Doneen said. “The laws direct us so that the water supply for future generations in Minnesota is sustainable.”
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The laws dictate the order of priority for water use. For instance, domestic use and agricultural use take priority over commercial and industrial use, according to Doneen.
RELATED: Send Mississippi River water to southwestern reservoirs? Analysis casts doubts.
The DNR is currently considering a citizens’ petition on a California company’s proposal to build a $125 million, 425,000-square-foot water-bottling plant in Elko New Market, Doneen said. The Niagara Bottling plant would draw from the city’s water supply, which comes from the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer.
Citizens have petitioned the DNR for an environmental review of the project; the project is on hold until that decision is made, Doneen said. The deadline for that decision is the end of this month, he said.
