Nestlé’s water business has been authorised by the Vosges prefecture in France to carry out exploratory water borehole drilling.
The project intends to identify sources for the company’s mineral water brand Hépar, according to an order published by the prefecture Wednesday (11 June).
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It is expected to take place in the Vittel and They-Sous-Monfort regions of eastern France.
The company’s water unit Nestlé Waters told Just Drinks: “Exploring new drilling is a usual part of natural mineral water activity.
“We are in an exploratory phase, conducting geological surveys, to assess if there are opportunities for Hépar mineral water.”
In 2023, the Contrex water producer announced it was to stop extracting water for its Hépar brand from two mineral water wells in Vosges after facing “prolonged periods of drought and heavy rain”.
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By GlobalDataAccording to the prefecture’s latest order, the full project “must take place within three years”.
Any major project changes must be re-declared by Nestlé to the prefecture.
The decision could still be subject to appeals, which must be filed within two months through the Administrative Court of Nancy or online via Télérecours Citoyens. Additional appeals can be made to the prefect or the Minister of the Environment.
Last month, French authorities ordered Nestlé to remove system filters from its Vergèze and Vosges sites, which produce bottled water brands such as Perrier and Contrex.
Nestlé’s water business told Just Drinks at the time it was “determined to seek solutions to the requests of the Prefects of the Gard and Vosges to withdraw, within two months, the 0.2 micron microfiltration”.
It said in a brief statement that a “technical solution” had already been found for the Vosges location, which will impact Contrex and Hépar, but the plan still “must be validated by authorities”.
The Vittel brand “is not affected by this type of microfiltration”, the group said.
