Water rights activists are denying possible sale of Poland Spring and say buyer identified in news reports poses “new threat” to Maine water resources
FRYEBURG, Maine – Water rights activists on Saturday denounced the possible sale of the Poland Spring bottled water brand, saying the buyer identified in the news reports poses a new threat to state resources.
A crowd that organizers estimated reached 100 gathered for the Community Water Justice-sponsored rally to express their concerns.
Nickie Sekera, co-founder of the group, said she is concerned that a privately held company could respond less than Nestle, freeing the company from any responsibility it promised to Maine communities.
Nestle hasn’t been a good neighbor, “but at least a corporation like Nestle will to some extent be sensitive to the bad public image,” he said.
Nestle 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, which employ 860 people.
Participants in the rally are concerned about news reports suggesting the Swiss company was negotiating the possible sale with One Rock Capital Partners LLC, a New York-based private equity firm.
Nestle declined to comment on the negotiations. A One Rock spokesman did not send a message.
Brands to be sold include Deer Park, Ozarka, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills and Arrowhead, as well as Poland Spring.
Maulian Dana, ambassador of the Penobscot Nation tribe, said the people of the Penobscot “know how precious and life-giving the water is to our tribal communities and to the entire state.”
“We oppose the action proposed by Nestle and One Rock Capital Partners, and remind our friends and neighbors that water is life,” he said in a statement.