A bad Idea in Kunkletown

Nestle Water North America is currently seeking a permit to allow them to "harvest" 200,000 gallons of water per day from two extraction wells they drilled on an 80-acre leased parcel or property in Kunkletown. Four hundred gallons is the equivalent daily water usage for a family of four. Therefore that amount of extraction would support 500 homes. However, this water is to be hauled to Breinigsville to their bottling plant.

This watershed includes properties other than the 80-acre leased property. Aquifers are underground bodies of water without property boundaries. Additionally, a serious issue that impacts many homes and properties that surround the 80-acre leased parcel is the required wellhead protection. There are many listed property uses that will be disallowed within a half-mile distance of Nestle's wellhead. More than 140 surrounding properties with over 100 homes will have future restrictions placed on their properties. Activities and uses that are currently permissible would in the future require property owners to obtain a "special exception use" permit. In other words, activity that would negatively impact Nestle's wells. It is very clear why water extraction was never permitted in this commercial area in the heart of Kunkletown. In my opinion property owners should not be obligated to give up their property rights to accommodate a company whose activity is a tremendous threat to our ability to live here.

Water is our most precious resource. Constitutionally, it belongs to every one of us. Nestle has a desire to "harvest" a resource that clearly does not belong to them. They did not "plant or sow" that resource. Nestle should be required to provide their own wellhead protection property and not attempt to obtain the required protection by placing property use restrictions on surrounding property owners. We own them nothing. This is not a suitable site for this operation.

Nestle's three-day pump tests have already shown negative impacts on property owners' wells and springs. This impact is noticeable with only three days of pumping. This proposed project is detrimental to our area and deserves regional scrutiny. We all live downstream. What is your view? Thank you.

Vernon A. Barlieb

Kunkletown