"Nestlé Waters is facing, like all of its industry, with deteriorating weather conditions, with more frequent and more intense events, such as regular droughts followed by heavy rains, which affect the operating conditions of certain boreholes on its Vosges site," the group told AFP, confirming information from the daily Vosges Matin.
"In this context, two of the boreholes intended for the production of the Hépar brand have been identified as particularly sensitive, because of their shallow depth, to climatic hazards", which affects "the availability of water resources on these boreholes and makes it very difficult to maintain the stability of the essential characteristics of a natural mineral water", continues the same source, according to which Nestlé Waters has decided to "suspend" their use.
The group has not yet specified the estimated duration of this suspension and did not wish to communicate on the quantities taken from its drilling.
The production of Hépar water, rich in magnesium, "continues with the other four boreholes whose operating conditions are not affected" and Hépar products remain "available to its consumers and distributors (...) within the limits of available quantities," the group said.
Nestlé Waters also says it will "accelerate the implementation of measures to improve the resilience of its operations, while pursuing sustainable and responsible management of the resource".
"New projects will be implemented" this spring "in collaboration with local stakeholders, to continue its environmental roadmap and continue to protect the water recharge area from climatic hazards," says the group.
© 2023 AFP