Nestlé has faced controversy over its water bottling operations in Michigan. The company pumps large amounts of water from springs in Mecosta, with plans to increase pumping. Local groups opposed this, concerned it could deplete the water supply. A decade-long legal battle ended in 2009 with Nestlé agreeing to reduce pumping levels during sensitive periods. There remains a debate around the responsibilities of water companies and ensuring a sustainable supply.

2. Brief history of
Nestlé's water battles in Michigan
• In North America, bottled water companies like Nestlé Waters have
been able to secure control over underground aquifers and streams by
taking advantage of an outdated patch work of regulatory regimes.
• Nestlé bottling plant in Mecosta started pumping 130 gallons of water
every minute from the spring when they started, with plans to increase
that to 400 gallons per minute, or about 262 million gallons a year.
• Some local people were thrilled to have job opportunities, some
however were not so much. They were concerned about the effects of
pumping excessive amount of water.

3. • Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC), a local
Mecosta group filed suit contesting Nestlé's right to the spring's
waters. MCWC ended its ten-year battle against Nestlé/Ice
Mountain in 2009 and won.
• Nestlé agreed to lower its spring pumping in Mecosta earlier in
the spring during fish spawning and continue low pumping
during the summer months to protect the already stressed stream
and lake.

4. Question 1:
Should people in
Michigan be
concerned about
how, and by
whom, the
state’s ground
water is used?
• To survive all the living creatures
need water. From trees to animals to
insects, all need water to live.
• If the ground water level of a place
goes down trees will not be able to
get water to grow, which will
eventually lead the place to desert.
As a result of that that area will
become unsuitable for living.

5. • In Michigan, Nestle planned to pump 400+ gallons of
water per minute from the springs.
• Pumping excessive water may and would lead to
groundwater depletion or long-term water level depletion.
• In long run dried up lands of Michigan would not be able
to sustain trees or forests and living creatures in.
Eventually it would lead to drought.
• Which is why Michigan citizens had and still have all the
rights to be concerned about how and by whom the
state's ground is used. Their very sustainability depends
on it.

6. Question 2
What issues of justice does this case raise?
Identify and explain three
ethical issues in the case :
It is unfair to the resident
and environment because Nestle
is using their water supply
without limitation and that may
affect them in the future which
will lead to water shortage, and
they are the one who will be
affected directly.
In addition, exporting of
water could possibly damage
American Indian Tribes fishery.
Another issue is the government is
irresponsible :
It is stated by MCWC
contends that the water itself is a
public resource. It is resident’s
right to use the water for long term
for drinking, boating, swimming, or
anything else rather than transport
the water to other distant land for
other use that is why they should
shorten the lease into acceptable
period which can benefit both
parties.

7. Planning to increase it up
to 400 gallons per minute
It is not about the fact that Nestle wants to pump water
from the spring, but is about the lavishness amount of water they
are pumping every minute from the spring to suit its large demand
fitting. It is not reasonable to pump 130 gallons of water every
minute and their plan to increase it up to 400 gallons per minute.
The huge amount of pumping water is not acceptable regardless of
what the company need is.

8. Conventional ethical principles
 It is practice in Michigan as unethical even though it may
bring benefit today but it will create water shortage in the
future and it will affect the society at large in long term.
 It may affect the environment which include the plant,
animals and human.
 Nestle is privatize a public resource and take many
advantage as possible and make profit out of it which consider
unethical practice.

9. Tawhidic paradigm

10. •Action (‘amal) of stockholder :
 Conscience (dhamir).
 Rationality (‘aqlaniayah).
 Understanding (fahm).
 Trust (Al- amanah).
• The water as a natural recourse, is the
mean and Nestle has the responsibility.
Stockholder Vs. Stakeholders

11. Daruriyat
• Protection of life, there is no life without water that is why it
should be protected by the society and not accepting the damage
of their life, and Allah said:
﴿َّ‫ل‬ُ‫ك‬ ِ‫اء‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ل‬‫ا‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ج‬َ‫و‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ش‬ٍ‫ء‬﴾ٍ‫ي‬َ‫ح‬
“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens
and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and
made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?”
Surat Al-'Anbyā'(21:30)

12. • protection of the environment, even though if you have a lot
of wealth you should concern about the environment and the
need of other creators. Islamically we should not misuse the
water as natural recourses even if we know we will never face
shortages of waters. And the profit said:
‫لذلك‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫س‬ِ‫ب‬ َّ‫ر‬َ‫م‬ َ‫م‬َّ‫ل‬َ‫س‬َ‫و‬ ِ‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ ُ َّ‫اَّلل‬ ‫ى‬َّ‫ل‬َ‫ص‬ َّ‫ي‬ِ‫ب‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬َ‫ل‬‫ا‬ََََ َََُُّّ‫و‬َََ‫ي‬ َ‫و‬َُُ‫و‬ ٍ‫د‬:
(َ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫ق‬ ‫ُ؟‬‫د‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫س‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ ُ‫ف‬َ‫ر‬َّ‫س‬‫ال‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ذ‬َُ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬:‫؟‬ ٌ‫ف‬َ‫ر‬َ‫س‬ ِ‫ُوء‬َُّ‫و‬ْ‫ل‬‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ََِ‫أ‬َ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫ق‬:ْ‫ه‬َ‫ن‬ ‫ى‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ َ‫ت‬ْ‫ن‬ُ‫ك‬ ْ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬َ‫و‬ ،ْ‫م‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ن‬ٍ‫ار‬َ‫ج‬ ٍ‫ر‬)
The Messenger of Allah passed by Sa'd when he was performing
ablution, and he said: 'What is this extravagance?' He said: 'Can
there be any extravagance in ablution?' He said: 'Yes, even if you
are on the bank of a flowing river.

13. • protection of wealth ( mal) the water consider the wealth of
the country in Michigan that is why the stakeholder should be
concern about their wealth by utilizing water wisely and
control the amount of water used for business and public
recourses.

14. Question 3:
Identify one of the
three (3) sources of
conventional
morality that could
address one the
three ethical issues
in the case. (Note:
Conventional refers
to non-Islamic
perspectives.)?
• The facts of the case is about that
Water is one of the foremost dynamic
in the world and economy; however,
if the usage of water continues at this
rate then, the U.N. deems that by
2025 two thirds of the population may
have water shortage issues.
• We assess this case from the
perspective of Utilitarian, then the
question that need to be asked
should be is this going to maximize
good over evil, and the answer would be no.
Utilitarian’s views situations by the morally
correct actions, so if pumping 400 gallons
of water were benefitting others such as being shipped
to Africa to assist with a drought then pumping that
amount of water would be acceptable.

15. ►On the other hand at first many residents were thrilled
because they would have a better opportunity to make
more money and possibly obtain a job but we think
they are beginning to realize that the long term affect,
potential water shortage, is worse than the short term
outcomes like employment.

16. ►This case also in relation to the Risk, Reward,
and Responsibility have significant similarities
such as profit. Both is a good example of ethics
in business. Whether it's bottled of water or a
cruise ship, most business should work for
profit, but that shouldn’t be the main focus. The
point of the company is to please their customer.
Therefore, the company shouldn't be profit
driven.

17. We conclude the best outcome could
be viewed for an Utilitarian
perspective because they would
want to achieve the maximum
amount of good for all therefore,
they would not look at the jobs the
plant creates or the amount of
money Nestle pays in taxes, but the
long term effect which is Michigan
experiencing a water deficiency.

18. THE CONCLUSION
Nestles’ bottled water companies have take advantage from
watersheds in Michigan. They get more profit and become a bottled
water leadership. In the same time, Nestle brought havoc to
watersheds, pumping excessive water may lead drought.
Thus, considering the size of the resource and the fit is so most
important in the operation of the business and lifestyle.
ْ‫و‬َ‫ل‬‫و‬‫ى‬َِ ۟‫ا‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫غ‬َ‫ب‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬ِ‫ع‬ِ‫ل‬ َ‫ق‬ْ‫ز‬ ِ‫ٱلر‬ ُ َّ‫ٱَّلل‬ َ‫ط‬َ‫س‬َ‫ب‬َّ‫م‬ ٍٍۢ‫َر‬‫د‬ََِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ل‬ ِ‫ز‬َ‫ن‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫ك‬ََٰ‫ل‬َ‫و‬ ِ‫ض‬ْ‫ر‬َ ْ‫ٱْل‬ۚ ُ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬َ‫ش‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬
‫ۥ‬ُ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ٌٍۢ‫ر‬‫ي‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫خ‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬ِ‫ع‬ِ‫ب‬ٌ‫ر‬‫ي‬ ِ‫ص‬َ‫ب‬ۭ
And if Allah had extended [excessively] provision for His servants,
they would have committed tyranny throughout the earth. But He sends
[it] down in an amount which He wills. Indeed He is, of His servants,
Acquainted and seeing (of things that benefit them). Ash-Shuraa 42:27

19. THE RECOMMENDATION
Mans who have their own business no matter
what kind of business is he/she should concerns about
the effects on other people, other creatures, environment
as well as natural ecosystem. If the business that mans
do may affect others, the effect can return back to the
owner in the future whether
direct way or indirect way.