California is experiencing its most severe drought in recorded history. Lakes and rivers are drying up, cities are instituting water rationing, and no relief is in sight.

California citizens are facing mandatory water restrictions, but Nestlé Waters’ bottling plants are operating at full volume. In fact, Nestlé’s response to public outcry for water conservation has been anything but concern. Recently, a reporter asked Nestlé Waters North America CEO Tim Brown if he’d move Nestlé’s operations out of California during the drought. His response? “Absolutely not. In fact, if I could increase it, I would.”

With California drying up, the state can hardly afford to waste water. It’s time to let Nestlé’s CEO know that his refusal to conserve water is unacceptable.

In one shocking example, Nestlé is pumping water from the San Bernardino National Forest on a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service that expired over 25 years ago! The company pays only $524 each year to profit off of public land in San Bernardino. That’s why The Story of Stuff Project, Courage Campaign and Center for Biological Diversity sued the United States Forest Service (USFS) on October 13th – to hold Nestlé accountable for its actions on our public lands. Your input can let Nestlé know we’re serious.

Nestlé is giving the people - and ecosystems - of California short shrift. But Nestlé’s operations in California also have worldwide ramifications. While Nestlé makes millions of dollars exporting water from a federal drought disaster area, our waterways fill with plastic, and our ecosystems pay the price.

If we’re going to live sustainably on this planet, we all need to pitch in and do our part. Tell Nestlé to stop bottling water from our public lands today!