Australian Beverages Council’s water division the Australasian Bottled Water Institute (ABWI) has welcomed a review by NSW chief scientist and engineer professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte.
The state government’s review will look at the impacts of the water bottling industry on groundwater.
“We are confident that the review to be carried out by the highly respected professor Hugh will be thorough and fair in its appraisal of water extraction for the bottled and packaged water industry,” said Geoff Parker, CEO, Australian Beverages Council.
“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.
“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.”
ABWI said in a statement that the bottled water industry in Australia consumes only 0.1 per cent of all groundwater extracted across the country. The agriculture sector uses the vast majority of water.
