04/07/07 By Aaron Ogg The Grand Rapids Press

NEWAYGO COUNTY -- A Nestle spokeswoman said Friday no sites are "on the immediate horizon" after the company has abandoned its plan to pump spring water from a location near the White River's headwaters.

But don't rule out future investigations, she added.

"We have made a substantial investment in Michigan, and our brand continues to grow," said spokeswoman Deborah Muchmore. "As that continues, we will be looking at additional sources of natural spring water that help us provide what consumers are looking for."

Nestle Waters North America Inc. officials said studies show the water at a Monroe Township site is of a different mineral composition than that currently sold under the company's Ice Mountain label.

The company bottles water at a facility in Stanwood, with about 250 full-time employees.

White River Watershed Partnership, a group that opposed Nestle's recent plans, reacted positively to the news Friday. The group claimed pumping could have threatened fish, lowered White Lake water levels, and disrupted recreational activities.

Chairman Tom Thompson said the partnership is "pleased," but questioned why it took "a couple of years" to reach the decision.

Muchmore said the soonest Nestle's test well could be installed was January, and that the company received the results just recently.

"We made the decision as quickly as we possibly could, but you can't do that until you do all the right studies," she said. "We base all of our decisions on sources for natural spring water for our brand on good science."

Muchmore said analysis will continue on a site in Osceola County that has been studied for seven years. The company buys water from Evart and hauls it 40 miles south to its Stanwood plant.

Nestle plans to request a pumping permit from the Department of Environmental Quality within the next six months, Muchmore said.