Water Use in the U.S.

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Source: U.S. Geological Survey Study, 2005

Our regional brands each have unique, rich heritage. Click brand below to learn more.

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Arrowhead Ozarka Ice Mountain Poland Spring Deer Park Zephyrhills

A rich heritage of regional brands

Arrowhead

Founded: 1894
California, Arizona and Nevada
Nestlé Waters brand: 1987
Arrowhead

Founded in 1894, the original Arrowhead® spring was discovered high above the San Bernardino Mountains near a rock formation shaped like an Arrowhead. According to legend, an arrow from heaven burned the formation on a mountainside to show local people where they could be healed. The arrow points to the Arrowhead springs. Today, Arrowhead® Brand Mountain Spring Water comes from carefully selected mountain springs in the U.S and Canada.

Ozarka

Founded: 1905
Texas, Oklahoma,
Louisiana and Arkansas
Nestlé Waters brand: 1987
Ozarka

Though Ozarka® Spring Water Company officially began in 1905, its roots can be traced back for centuries. The site of the brand's original source, deep in the heart of the Ozark Mountains near Eureka Springs, has long been considered sacred ground as local people were drawn to its healing properties. In 1856 the springs were "discovered" by Dr. Alvah Jackson, who claimed to have used its "healing waters" to cure his son's eye ailment. During the Civil War, the waters were used to care for soldiers. Over time, the marvels of Eureka Springs became known and the town became a vacation destination, as well as a place to drink the "liquid cure." As the town's notoriety grew, so did the popularity of the spring water. Today, Ozarka® Brand Natural Spring Water comes from carefully selected natural springs located in Texas.

Ice Mountain

Founded: 1987
Midwest United States
Nestlé Waters brand: 1989
Ice Mountain

The history of the sources for Ice Mountain® Brand Natural Spring Water can be traced back thousands of years to the last Ice Age. As the glaciers that covered much of the northern U.S. and Canada retreated, the materials they left behind later formed sand and gravel deposits which created aquifers where large volumes of groundwater were present. When groundwater flows to the earth's surface, it creates natural springs. Today, Ice Mountain® Brand Natural Spring Water comes from carefully selected springs throughout the Midwest and Northeast.

Poland Spring

Founded: 1845
Northeast United States
Nestlé Waters brand: 1980
Poland Spring

Poland Spring got its start 20,000 years ago when glaciers retreated from what is now Maine. The story of the original spring dates back to 1793 when, legend has it, a small inn owner was revived from his deathbed after drinking the spring's water. He lived another 52 years. Poland Spring gained a reputation for purity and good taste and the inn became a summer retreat of city dwellers. The spring proudly took top honors for "the best spring in the country" at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Today, Poland Spring® Brand Natural Spring Water comes from various carefully selected springs in Maine.

Deer Park

Founded: 1873
New York to Florida
Nestlé Waters brand: 1993
Deer Park

The original source in Deer Park, MD, known locally as the "boiling spring," comes from the action of the water bubbling up through white sand on its way to the surface. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad created a vacation resort high in the Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland known as the Deer Park Hotel. The hotel and its spa were originally created to attract passengers to ride the B&O railroad. The spring water near the site also became a major attraction and they began bottling it in 1873 to quench the thirsts of its passengers. Today, Deer Park® Brand Natural Spring Water comes from carefully selected springs in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Zephyrhills

Founded: 1960
Florida
Nestlé Waters brand: 1987
Zephyrhills

The town of Zephyrhills is located among the scenic rolling hills, citrus groves and lakes of Central Florida. The town earned the name "City of Pure Water" and the original Zephyrhills spring is a celebration of what's most natural about Florida, its ties to the ocean. Tens of thousands of years ago, Florida was underwater. As sea levels lowered, a mineral rich limestone bedrock remained, creating a natural filter for groundwater to flow through. Today, Zephyrhills® Brand Natural Spring Water comes from carefully selected natural springs in Florida. The mineral content gives Zephyrhills its natural and distinctive taste.

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We manage nearly 14,000 acres of natural watershed area around our 50 spring sites. At the sites, we carefully monitor water levels to ensure that they're being replenished. We strive to manage our spring sources not just for today, but for generations to come.

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Click above to learn more about the water cycle.

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Our Sources:

We take great care in selecting our sources.

Find out why local tastes better.

We select our spring sources for good taste and reliable quality and carefully manage for long-term sustainability. Learn more about our sources...

Environmental stewardship is important to us.

We manage our spring water resources using extensive scientific research as well as community input. This careful management starts with how we select our springs, and continues through on-going monitoring of our sources and the surrounding environment. This helps protect the health and sustainability of the springs, and connected surface and groundwater supplies, including related community wells. It also helps to ensure that surrounding plant and animal habitats, wetlands and riparian areas remain vital and diverse.

Managing Our Sources Responsibly

Site Selection

When considering a new spring source, we look for a healthy and protected ecosystem, an abundant water supply, and high quality spring water that is great tasting. Spring water is a product of the earth. Because the mineral content is not changed during bottling, spring water retains the same properties and quality as its underground source. Depending on the mineral content, water temperature, and other naturally occurring factors, each spring will impart its unique “fingerprint” and taste to that particular water.

For our current spring sites, we take great care to maintain them responsibly. In fact, Nestlé Waters employs 10 Natural Resource Managers to identify, develop and safeguard our spring water sources.

Learn more about our siting process

Long-term monitoring

Before we harvest any spring source, we study the source as part of our siting process. This process includes studies of aquatic life, soils, wildlife, wetlands, riparian areas and surface waters. We conduct extensive research, including historic and cultural influences, and land-use practices dating back more than 100 years.

With our current spring sources, we continue our efforts to carefully monitor and study our sites. We believe that long-term monitoring reflects the company’s commitment to keeping springs renewable through scientific measures. An advanced environmental monitoring network provides critically important information about the condition of the aquifer, wetlands, stream flows, aquatic life, precipitation levels and more. The data we collect on an ongoing basis, both manually and electronically, is entered into site-specific databases to meticulously manage our spring resources—now and in the future.

Working with communities

Our environmental experts study water flow volumes, water quality and how well the water is replenished. We share the information with communities and those interested in the data so we can have an open dialogue about our spring siting projects.

Recognizing the importance and complexity in getting our approach right, we asked Business For Social Responsibility and our stakeholders for guidance. The result is a revised framework for spring siting and set of community commitments. This is a dynamic process and we will continue to learn and adapt as we go.

Learn more about our siting process

We may be national, but our regional spring water brands are what give our company a rich heritage and our spring waters their unique, crisp taste.

Nestle Pure Life Pierrer S. Pellegrino Aqua Panna Mountclair (Canada)

Water is a renewable resource with proper management

This cycle of renewability figures into how we manage our water sites. We understand water is a renewable resource, but one that needs to be monitored carefully to ensure that its available not just today, but for the future. The water cycle of renewability figures into how we manage our water sites. Take a look at how water replenishes itself in the water cycle.

Water Use in the U.S.

The U.S. Geological Survey Study for 2005 gives a good snapshot of sources and uses of water
in the U.S.

Water Use in the U.S.
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© 2011 Nestlé Waters North America Inc.