HOLLIS, Maine — Poland Spring has withdrawn its proposal to double water extraction in Hollis after significant community concern.
According to the Town of Hollis Planning Board website, the town hall meeting scheduled for Sept. 14 has been canceled, and the Poland Spring application has been withdrawn.
Poland Spring's parent company, BlueTriton Brands, filed a June 1 request to increase its water extraction from 30 million gallons to 60 million gallons per year from Borehole 6, located in the Plains Road area.
Hollis residents attended two Planning Board meetings on Aug. 10 and 24 to discuss the Poland Spring proposal. Many noted concerns about impacts to private wells amid drought conditions in much of southern Maine, including York County.
Poland Spring said that doubling its output as stated in the proposal would not deplete or degrade any adjacent water sources. In a statement, a Poland Springs spokesperson said, "Poland Spring has withdrawn its application to amend the usage level from one of its spring water boreholes in Hollis. Consistent with our principle and longstanding practice of being a good neighbor, we have determined it is in the best interest of everyone not to proceed at this time. While this project recently received Maine DEP approval, we appreciate the community’s engagement on this permit application as well as their comments and suggestions. In Hollis alone, Poland Spring conserves more than 1,500 acres of watershed area. We will continue to be avid water stewards and report water withdrawals to the town of Hollis and the Maine DEP."