Since 2002, Nestle has had a deal with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians that allows the food giant to pump water from the Millard Canyon aquifer located on the tribe?s reservation, bottle it and sell it under the company?s Arrowhead and Pure Life water brands.
How much Nestle, the country?s largest bottled water company, paid the Morongo tribe for the rights to the water supply is not known, as the contract between the bottled water supplier and the tribe is not required to be disclosed.
The state has enacted severe restrictions regarding water use, aiming to conserve enough water for about 3.5 million people, or about 9 percent of the state?s population, but because the water plant is located on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians? reservation, local water agencies do not have any control over the water plant.
Nestle also doesn?t have to report how much water it takes from the water basin because of the plant?s location on the reservation. Many say this is a point of concern, especially since water is a limited resource in the state.
?Why is it possible to take water from a drought area, bottle it and sell it??
the icing on the cake
yup, the bottled water industry makes sense.