Township appealing ruling on Nestle permit

OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP — A township is appealing a judge's ruling that a bottled-water company should be allowed to build a pumping station as part of its plans to get more groundwater for one of its brands.

Nestle Waters North America sued after Osceola Township rejected a zoning permit.

Nestle wants to withdraw up to 400 gallons (1,514 liters) a minute, with help from a pipeline booster station at SpringHill Camps, a summer camp, for its Ice Mountain brand.

Mason County Judge Susan Sniegowski ruled last month.

Osceola Township's Board of Trustees voted this week to appeal the ruling to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Nestle said the judge's decision was appropriate.

The permit dispute is separate from a decision to increase water output. That request is pending at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.