Nestlé Waters is the largest water bottling company in the world. For the past 30 years it has been removing as much as 162 million gallons a year from the San Bernardino National Forest under an expired Forest Service special use permit.

In December, the California Water Board staff ruled that Nestlé doesn't actually have a valid right to the vast majority of water that it has been bottling from these public lands. Despite being told by the state to immediately end its unauthorized use of this water, Nestlé's operations have continued unabated, with the Forest Service’s blessing.

It's time the Forest Service fulfills its duty and mission to the people: to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. Until the Forest Service stops Nestle’s unlawful and damaging water grab, they are failing that mission.

We're telling Tony Tooke, the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, that enough is enough: this water belongs in the forest, not in Nestlé's plastic Arrowhead water bottles. Nestlé has no right to this precious resource, and it is the Forest Service's job to respect California laws and put a stop to Nestle’s illegal water removal.

Photo caption: Tony Tooke (left) is sworn in as Forest Service Chief by US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue (right). USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.