This year, water extraction received a lot of attention both in Augusta and in local communities. During the last legislative session numerous bills were introduced related to water bottling facilities. Although many users rely on Maine’s vast groundwater resources, one of the very smallest and most responsible users getting particular attention is Poland Spring.

Approximately five years ago, Kingfield began the process of creating a local environmental ordinance to protect this valuable resource and used it to permit a spring water bottling plant. They crafted a strong ordinance that both protected the aquifer and helped create jobs and economic opportunity for the community.

The ordinance was overwhelmingly approved by the Kingfield voters. The planning board then considered Poland Spring’s application and sought advice from an independent geologist hired by the town. The planning board set a conservative and sustainable withdrawal limit in the permit it approved. A permit from DEP was also required and obtained. The combination of state and local regulation provides redundant and rigorous oversight, while still allowing Poland Spring to operate responsibly and create good jobs.

That’s exactly what this state and our local communities need to be doing. We need to encourage companies that create good paying jobs to invest in our towns and expand in Maine. Managing our natural resources to provide jobs has gone on in this state for centuries.

As a legislator, I am all too aware of the decline in jobs in the manufacturing sector in our area. These jobs must be replaced or Maine will continue to suffer. Poland Spring is one of the few companies looking to invest in Maine in this difficult economic climate. The company completed a $60 million bottling plant in Kingfield, spending $19 million with local contractors and putting several hundred Mainers to work during construction.

Today, more than 41 families living within 20 miles of the Kingfield facility enjoy a good paying job with health care, dental and other great benefits. Another 20 have part-time or seasonal work. Because of its dedicated local workers, the Poland Spring plant has the highest rate of efficiency and recycling of any Nestlé Waters bottling facility in the country.

To mark this environmental achievement, and similar ones at its Poland Spring and Hollis facilities, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection recently named Poland Spring an Environmental Leader in Maine. I’ve seen that leadership firsthand through Poland Spring’s work across the state.

If we want to be more than a tourist destination, with more than service jobs, we must both protect and add value to our natural resources to create jobs that provide a good living for Maine families. Poland Spring does precisely that by responsibly using our abundant ground water resources to create the world’s finest bottled spring water. Poland Spring has proven they are a responsible steward of our ground water resources with a commitment to investing in local communities.

If you have questions about this or anything else, please call me at 645-3420 or e-mail me at drtom16@hotmail.com. As always, it my pleasure to serve the people of District 90.

Tom Saviello of Wilton represents House District 90: the towns of Avon, New Vineyard, Phillips, Strong, Temple and Wilton, plus the unorganized territories of East Central Franklin and Perkins and Washington townships.