http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/wild-west-of-groundwater-billion-dollar-nestl%C3%A9-extracting-b-c-s-drinking-water-for-free-1.587568

In British Columbia we are blessed with an abundance of fresh and clean water, and Nestle and other similar companies see an opportunity in this blessing. B.C. has little regulation of groundwater, making it easy for Nestle to bottle millions of litres of the fresh ground water for free. Although it is unethical to “steal” water, the government cannot stop Nestle simply because they are not breaking the law. Nestle is willing to work with the government in creating regulations, but at the end of the day “the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits” (Friedman) which is Nestle intention. As Friedman said, “one man’s good is another’s evil” and until the government makes final changes to Water Act this will continue. Regardless of the free water and the government’s role, Nestle doesn’t worry about what is ethical, because a business cannot have social responsibilities.

On the other hand while I agree with most of what Friedman argues, I also believe businesses are becoming more aware of what is ethical and what social responsibilities people respect. PUB, a water purifying and recycling company in Singapore, is refining sewage water making it safe for drinking and other uses. This of course brings profit to the business but also Singapore has more available water during water shortages. As new businesses constantly emerge, I think people are finally looking for the few that seem to have a grasp on social responsibility, in hopes of a stronger future for society as a whole, however minimal.

PUB website: http://www.pub.gov.sg/Pages/default.aspx