The Australasian Bottled Water Institute [ABWI], has welcomed the announcement of a government review of water extraction in the bottled and packaged water industry.
The ABWI, which is a division of the Australian Beverages Council, said it expected the review by the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer to thorough and fair.
“We are confident that the Chief Scientist will find that the bottled water industry responsibly manages groundwater sources across NSW, as all ABWI-certified source owners are required to ensure the ongoing sustainability of their water sources,” Australian Beverages Council CEO Geoff Parker said.
The bottled water industry uses just 0.1 per cent of all groundwater extracted across the country, with other agricultural uses comprising the vast majority of all water used, according to ABWI.
“It is crucial that the review considers the minimal environmental impact of water extraction by our industry while considering the positive economic contribution the industry makes to communities across Australia,” Parker said.
The Australian Beverages Council says it will make full representations to the Chief Scientist & Engineer as part of the review.
