Media Release

Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation Holds Informational Meeting

The Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation held an informational meeting on April 28, 2001 at the Mecosta Elementary School with over 100 members and interested citizens in attendance. Presented at the meeting was information on the proposed Perrier water mining project, local area resident concerns, regional water basin concerns, statewide concerns, and comments on legal issues. Guest speakers were Cheryl Mendoza from the Lake Michigan Federation, Andy Guy from the Michigan Land Use Institute, and Jim Olson from the environmental law firm of Olson and Bzdok. The meeting ended with questions from the audience.

Ray Ribitch, a board member of MCWC on behalf of MCWC, spoke of Perrier’s proposal to withdraw 262,800,000 gallons a year from the Sanctuary located in Morton Township located south of Rodney on M20 and to bottle and distribute throughout the Midwest at one of three sites being considered in either Mecosta Township, Morton Township or Osceola Township. To answer the question, How much water is 262,800,000 gallons? he equated it to a body of water that’s 126 acres, about the size of School Section Lake. If School Section were 6 feet 4 inches deep it would contain approximately 262,800,000 gallons.

People in Mecosta County, Morton Township, and Osceola Township overwhelmingly expressed their desire to participate in the decision making process through petition drives. These same people have been blocked by outside interests for their right to involvement. The benefits and risks for the almost 40,000 people residing in Mecosta County were pointed out by Ribitch. For an $85.00 fee for a well permit, Perrier’s market value of the bottled resource, saying bottled water sells for about $1.00 per 16 ounce, may be $2,102,400,000.00 while the community benefit is about $52.97 per resident. In a letter to Senator Emmons, a Mt. Pleasant 6^th grade student said, "I know that this plan will bring jobs, but jobs can be replaced years quicker than the water can."

Local, regional, and statewide level concerns are environment and ecology. Questions have been raised of eagles, loons, boating and fishing, wetlands, traffic concerns, pollution, schools, road conditions, congestion, right of way for farmers, soil types, wells, chemical storage, fire protection. The biggest question is "Who’s Water is It?

Cheryl Mendoza

Formed in December 2000, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation has grown to over 400 members. The organization is 100% volunteer and is membership funded. Its goal is to conserve, preserve and protect Michigan’s natural resources and the public trust in those resources for the benefit of the public and to preserve and protect land use, property values, quality of life, and the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of Michigan communities. We achieve this through educating the public on the value of preservation and conservation activities and promote the protection of Michigan’s natural resources including air, water, and land protection and stewardship. Visit MCWC’s web site at www.saveMIwater.org.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. A DEQ public hearing is going to be held on May 16, 2001 at the Holiday Inn in Big Rapids. Voice your concerns on what a project of this magnitude could do our communities and our natural resources.