I am concerned about the ethical problems with BC freshwater regulations as I am permanent resident of BC. An article on Timescolonist.com captured my attention as it talks about this problem in details.

I learned that due to the lack of BC government regulations, Nestle Waters Canada draws FREE fresh water in Hope every year; approximately 265 million litres per year. And because BC’s jurisdiction does not regulate groundwater usage, businesses gain the opportunity to take advantage of the law to make more money, which I believe is an unethical decision.

Besides Nestle Waters Canada, companies such as Whistler Waters and Mountain Spring Water also draws groundwater for zero dollars and sells it back to the public in plastic bottles. However, the difference between Nestle Waters Canada and other water companies is that Nestle voluntarily provide annual reports on the amount of water they extract in wells in Hope, whereas the smaller companies refuse to provide such publications.

Furthermore, Nestle Waters Canada is willing to pay for the amount of groundwater they withdraw in Hope, acknowledging the social responsibilities that they must enact to all its stakeholders. I think that Nestle is trying to be ethical by acknowledging its social responsibilities but if nothing is changed in BC’s jurisdictions, the problem with freshwater will not improve.

Image Source – Cowichan Valley Citizen

Reference

Fumano, Dan. “‘Wild West’ of Groundwater: Billion-dollar Nestlé Extracting B.C.’s Drinking Water for Free Times Colonist. 14 Aug. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/wild-west-of-groundwater-billion-dollar-nestlé-extracting-b-c-s-drinking-water-for-free-1.587568>.