Lawsuit Alleges Illegal Water Use by Nestlé in Drought-Stricken Calif.

"A group of environmental organizations filed suit against the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday alleging that the government agency allowed Nestlé to bottle water in California on an expired permit.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, calls on the Forest Service to shut down immediately a four-mile pipeline that transports water from Strawberry Creek to a bottling facility. The permit in question expired in 1988, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs demand that the Forest Service conduct another review that takes into account environmental impacts, according to the lawsuit. Nestle is not a party to the suit.

The suit, filed by advocacy groups the Story of Stuff Project, the Courage Campaign Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity, comes amidst an historic drought that has prompted policies requiring the state’s residents to cut personal water use. The plaintiffs argue that corporations shouldn’t get such unfettered water use while regular people have to cut back."

Justin Worland reports for TIME October 14, 2015.