The Water State, a film exploring the battle over bottling Florida’s springs is now available to view online.
From the nonprofit conservation organization, Project Paradise, comes the film, The Water State, which illustrates how Florida’s governmental protections have failed to protect the state’s precious freshwater springs.
The short documentary profiles the story of the controversial permit that the Suwannee River Water Management District awarded to Seven Springs Water Company, the owners of Ginnie Springs campground near Gainesville, Florida. The water pumped is destined to be sold to be bottled at a nearby plant, owned by Nestle Waters North America at the time the permit was granted. The water permit, which cost Seven Springs Water Co $115, allows the company to pump up to one million gallons of water per day out of Ginnie Springs, for free, to sell for bottling.
The film discusses the failure of governmental water protections in Florida, the inherent bias of the water management districts, and summarizes the intricate legal battle initiated by the Florida Springs Council.