In a small town near the New Hampshire border, bottled water giant Poland Spring is allowed to extract over a million gallons of water a year from land it owns. Now, some residents are seeing ponds and wells dry up.
Jim Metivier stands on extensions of his dock over Long Pond in Denmark, Maine, in Nov. 2022. Water levels on his property have gradually receded over a period of several years."I haven't been able to get my canoe out since July," Metivier said.
"And then, probably about seven years ago, I had — one, two, three, four five," he said pointing to dock several dock extensions."Plus, there's a floating one at the end that's all still in the mud." Records show there has been less precipitation since 2005, but those same pumping tests have been referenced each time Poland Spring's permit has been renewed.
Jim Metivier stands next to the canoe on his dock on Long Pond in Denmark, Maine, in Nov. 2022. Susan Sharon/Maine Public) "My water receded 15 feet," he said."We've seen several years of drought now. That's why it's absolutely critical that we pay attention to what we have. And if we're going to basically give that prized commodity away, we better do it knowingly and it should be controlled by the state."
And, while he hasn't studied the pond, Mullaney said if that's the case, pumping operations could affect water levels, along with drought and other factors.
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