Nestle Waters North America will be allowed to increase it’s water withdrawals in Osceola Township. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved a permit application Monday.
Under the permit, Nestle will be allowed to increase it’s water withdrawals from 250 gallons a minute to 400 gallons a minute.
The move comes after a judge ruled in December the township would have to provide a permit to Nestle for a new pumping station.
Residents and environmental groups raised concerns that increasing water withdrawals in the area could have negative environmental impacts.
In a written statement on the permit approval, representatives with the DEQ said it was the most extensive analysis of any water withdrawal in Michigan history.
The statement also said that public comments made on Nestle’s permit application were overwhelmingly opposed to granting the permit but were related to public policy and the department “is required to follow the rule of law.”
Nestle will have to prepare and submit a monitoring plan for state approval before beginning the increased withdrawals.