Wells voters say NO to Nestle.
Voting down an ordinance which would open the door to large scale water extraction.
The vote was 3,194 against and 1,420 for, a 69.2% victory for water warriors.
Citizens Say No to Nestle and Reject Water Extraction Ordinance by 69%
Wells voters rejected a water extraction ordinance 3,194 no to 1,420 yes.
Jamilla El-Shafei, organizer for Save Our Water, a water justice organization which includes residents from Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Ogunquit and Biddeford, who organized the opposition along with Protect Wells Water said “In spite of the Nestle Waters Corporation spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence the vote in Wells, the citizens are standing up to protect their water from corporate exploitation and sending a message No to large scale water extraction and No to Nestle! In spite of the opposition co-opting our message, the people in Wells have spoken and that is what LOCAL CONTROL is really all about. We are hoping that the State of Maine takes notice and that our legislators put water in the public trust.”
Jean Foss, spokesperson for Protect Wells Water said “Rejection of the Wells ordinance, question #1, makes clear that the people of Wells do not want large scale water extraction. By this decision Wells groundwater remains fully available to the homes and local businesses that depend on it. Wells voters can credit themselves for turning out in numbers to vote on a critical and confusing issue. Future assaults on our aquifers are likely as water becomes scarce. Citizens are concerned and increasingly well informed. They rightfully demand that our laws, both state and local adequately defend people’s access to clean and abundant water.”
