June 12, 2009

New spray irrigation project to eliminate 1,145 tanker trips from Hollis bottling plant

HOLLIS, MAINE – Poland Spring announced that it has begun a new spray irrigation project at its Hollis bottling plant that will take 1,145 tanker truck trips off local roads. The project will repurpose at least 9.6 million gallons of water used for rinsing spring water pipes and equipment. The water will be held in a storage pond and sprayed seasonally over a 26-acre parcel of open fields adjacent to the plant, owned by Poland Spring.

Poland Spring Continuous Improvement Manager Tamara Risser discussed the project. “Poland Spring is committed to continuously finding new ways to reduce our environmental impact while creating efficiencies that improve our ability to support a $40 million payroll to 800 employees in Maine. This project takes over a thousand truck trips off the road this year while helping irrigate the open land we are protecting in Hollis.” The 26-acre parcel that benefits from the spray irrigation will be reseeded with a conservation mix of native plants approved by Maine DEP. The parcel is already home to an abundant natural habitat that includes a variety of ferns and native birds.

The water used for the irrigation system is generated during the regular rinsing of spring water pipes and bottling equipment. Although the water remains very high quality after rinsing, Poland Spring has transported it to municipal water treatment facilities, necessitating the additional 1,145 tanker trips that will now be eliminated throughout the bottling plant’s busy season from May to September.

Risser commented on Poland Spring’s role as a community partner. “Poland Spring listens carefully to local citizens, community organizations and businesses to minimize the impact of our operations in ways that are important to our neighbors. Where traffic impacts are concerned, in addition to today’s accomplishment, Poland Spring works with local citizens and the Maine DOT to establish Traffic Management Committees to identify areas in need of infrastructure improvements and to facilitate their implementation.”

Maine’s abundant and renewable groundwater resources are carefully monitored and regulated for long-term sustainability. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection requires a rigorous inspection and monitoring program that Poland Spring must adhere to throughout the spray irrigation program.

The Maine DEP licenses the Hollis bottling plant under both the Site Location of Development Law and the Waste Discharge Licensing program. Local permitting includes amendment of the facility's Conditional Use Permit, with review by the Hollis Planning Board.

Poland Spring’s Hollis bottling plant began operations in 2000. It now employs about 400 people in York County, and provides average hourly wages of over $20/hour and a comprehensive benefits package. Recent multi-million dollar capital investments in the plant include additions that are built to U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards. Poland Spring is protecting and preserving about 1500 acres of land around the Hollis plant spring sites to ensure the long-term sustainability of the local watershed. Poland Spring is also engaged in a multi-year pitch pine reforestation project to return the former farmland site of the Hollis plant to its natural habitat.