Thanks to the state of Florida, Nestle can pump as much water as they want out of Florida’s Madison Blue Springs State Park at no cost until 2018. Nestle paid a total of $230 for this right plus Florida awarded the bottling plant a tax refunds up to $1.68 million. Oh.. and Florida is in the midst of a region-wide water shortage:

So while Florida is in a bitter dispute with its state neighbors over water use, it’s giving its water away to a private company that bottles and ships it to those very same states.

Nestle says Floridians should be grateful. Its bottling plant has generated taxes and created jobs. “You’re talking about millions and millions of dollars in tax benefit,” said spokesman Jim McClellan. “It’s a very good deal for the state of Florida.”

Please don’t buy Deer Park water. More info