OPINION: Water company owners give their side of story

In recent months, there has been a lot of chatter about our proposed water bottling plant in the Creston area. Much of what we’ve seen and heard amount to false and misleading claims that could be made about any new water use in the Flathead, whether for a new subdivision, irrigation pivot, recreational, commercial or industrial use. The subtext of the detractors is one of simple anti-development obstructionism. We won’t begrudge anyone of their right to take that position, and to express themselves however they wish. What we would ask is that everyone be honest and form your final opinions based on facts rather than emotions and ideologies.

It is unfortunate, but it seems that the first assessment made of folks in Montana is whether they were born here. It’s true that neither my wife or I are from Montana. What is lost in that assessment is that we love Montana and have chosen to live here, and made that decision over 30 years ago when we bought our property in the Flathead. I have been intimately familiar with the area from childhood, having spent considerable time in the summers with extended family who have lived in this valley for generations. We are connected to this place, and would do it or our neighbors no harm.

As we began to explore the concept of a water bottling project on our property, we understood there would be complex water-right applications and rigorous permitting processes. We also understood and appreciated that there would be opportunities for public review and comment on our proposed project. We believe the formal DEQ and DNRC processes will provide a fair and thorough review of our proposal, and we’ll be receptive to any reasonable recommendations that improve the project. To date, we’ve left the chatter on the opinion pages and social media alone. But we’ve decided it may be time to clear the air a bit with regard to the following concerns.

Water Use: Detractors suggest that we will use an unprecedented amount of water and that Montanans don’t really need bottled water. Our application is for 710 acre feet of water per year. We will not use that amount of water in the foreseeable future, but let’s assume we would use that on day one. That volume of water is similar to the amount used on a quarter-section (160 acre) center pivot on an alfalfa field in the Flathead Valley on an annual basis.

For those that say we don’t need bottled water, it may be helpful to understand the market and the social benefits of bottled water. The per-capita consumption of bottled water was up more than 7 percent in 2015, with every person in America drinking an average of 36.5 gallons of bottled water. What’s lost on our opponents is the direct correlation to the decrease in consumption of sugary soft drinks which has experienced its 11th consecutive year of volume reductions. Leaving aside the obvious health benefits of this shift, did you know that it takes well over 15 gallons of water to produce just one can of soda? Which makes more sense from a human health and environmental standpoint — bottled water or soda?

Our water usage is not insignificant, but it’s also not unprecedented or without value and benefit to the community.

Water Quality: Quite simply, nothing will be added to the water in our plant. Rinse water will be filtered and discharged cleaner than it was when we pumped it from the aquifer.

Traffic and Noise: We have already made an agreement with the county to collaborate on dust control and road maintenance in anticipation of some nominal impact from truck traffic on the road. With our current plans, we anticipate one or two trucks per day. This could change if the business is successful, but we would anticipate no more than four trucks per day at what we consider the capacity of our site.

We appreciate thoughtful questions and concerns from serious public participants, and we’ll happily answer those questions as the permitting process proceeds. For those who simply wish to stir fear and controversy with misinformation, we invite you to go to Helena to play that game, and leave the common-sense discussion to the rest of us in the Flathead.

As we proceed through the permitting process, we will remain committed to developing a project that is respectful of the valley we love, and allows us to be productive contributors to the regional economy so that our kids and yours have the same or greater opportunities to live and play in the last best place.

Lew and Larel Weaver, of Creston, are the owners of the Montana Artesian Water Company.