Water Use

The proposed spring water withdrawals are a small fraction of the available spring water, even during low flow conditions. Since the inception of hatchery discharge monitoring in September 2007, the flow rate from the Ruby Mountain Springs has averaged 1,450 gallons per minute (gpm), ranging from a low of 660 gpm to a peak of 2,350 gpm. Nestlé Waters has received permits to withdraw an average of 124 gpm (<0.3 cubic feet per second), which is approximately 8.5% of the average spring flow.

Because the withdrawals are a small fraction of the continual spring flow and the withdrawal occurs just before the aquifer discharges to the springs, there will be no depletion of the aquifer over time. Although the flow of the springs to the river will be slightly diminished, all withdrawals will be augmented up-river, and therefore, there will be no depletion of the river. In the event of severe or prolonged drought or low water table levels in the aquifer, the requirements of County and State permits as well as production well design constraints will limit the amount of water that can be withdrawn.

These regulatory and physical limitations ensure protection of the aquifer, the springs, and the river.