Supplying nearly 100% of the state's drinking water, Florida's aquifers discharge over eight billion gallons of water each day; they are among the most productive in the world.

Most of that water is pumped out of the ground by artificial wells bringing millions of gallons of drinking water to bottling plants like Niagara.  Niagara has just built a $15 million dollar water bottling plant near the city of Groveland.  The bottling plant wants a 20-year permit to pump nearly 177 million gallons of water from the Florida's aquifer each year, which amounts to about 500,000 gallons of water a day.

The Niagara bottling plant has caused controversy all over Lake County, with some people who believe it is a great idea and will benefit and add jobs to the community, while others believe it will deplete the area's natural resources.

"We look to create about 200 jobs that pay no less the $35,000 a year.  Additionally, research shows that for every job we add, four more are created in the community as a result of Niagara being here-that's over a thousand people!  We bring a clean industry (no pollution) with high paying jobs and great benefits for our employees.  Additionally, Niagara's presence allows us to work with local cities/agencies in a time of disaster to provide needed relief-such as for Hurricane Fay," said a Niagara spokesperson.

Groveland's Mayor Mathew Baumann says that if Niagara is allowed to operate in Lake County one of the benefits would be an increased tax base which would improve revenue for local government agencies. The Niagara Bottling Plant also make bottles with 20% less plastic than current varieties, also according to The Morning Call.

"Our area of Lake County has been predominately citrus farming and agriculture; these activities consumed an enormous amount of water, far greater than the housing and commercial activities the replaced groves consumed.  I am not a geologist but based on the logic of replacement of farms and groves with a more urban environment the strain on Florida's aquifers would be reduced not increased," said Baumann.

However, not everyone agrees with these positive assessments.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, the plant would produce 183,000 gallons of wastewater out of every 500,000 it pumps out of the aquifer.  And, according to The Plant Management in Florida Waters Website, if the aquifer is over pumped, it can lower the water table, accelerate sink hole formation, and decrease spring flow.

People are wondering why the plant is built and not yet running.  Honey Rand, spokesperson from Niagara said, "when we were first invited to come to Lake County by members of the Lake County staff, Lake County Commissioners and members of the staff and Government of the City of Groveland, we were very excited. Even though some people have tried to deny that they invited us, the county staff actually offered us the largest incentive package ever."  An incentive package offers tax considerations and other things to get a company to commit to a community.  It's an indication of how much the community wants the company.  However, even this is disputed with some saying that Niagara was never "officially" invited. 

Some people are not even sure that the plant is fully operational.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, Christianne C. Ferraro, the agency's program administrator for water facilities dispatched a four-page letter that posed twenty-one questions about Niagara's operations at the Christopher C. For Commerce Park near Groveland, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Niagara says that the plant is fully operational and that Niagara has met all state, federal, and local requirements and have obtained all the necessary permits to operate.

The March of Dimes is also getting involved with the Niagara Bottling Plant situation. They returned a $5,000 charitable donation from Niagara Bottling after deciding the company's sponsorship of a charity event might deter other from donating. 

Lawyers have also filed a petition to block the St. Johns River Water Management District from giving a Consumption Use Permit.  The petition claims that Niagara's permit could adversely impact the county, the city and their citizen's future water supply.

Despite all these things, the district technical staff has recommended that its governing board give Niagara a five-year permit. If Niagara fails to get the Consumption Use Permit, it may have to purchase water from other suppliers and ship it to the bottling plant with tanker trucks.

In preparation to open, the large bottling plant is testing equipment and training employees at a nearby 300,000 square-foot facility inside Lake County's Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park in Groveland.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, the California-based company has worked for months to get the plant running.

Honey Rand and Niagara have created websites to share their side of the story: www.mycommunitywater.com and www.truthfromproof.com.  The sites contain information on what's happening to Niagara, how they believe it will affect Lake County, and how they plan to operate the water plant.

Will Niagara get the permit that caused so much controversy in Lake County?  Even if it does, it remains to be seen if and how it might affect Florida's most important natural resource, the aquifer.