Middleway's Proposed Water Bottling Plant Raises Environmental Concerns
Farmland Protection Board cites concerns about proposed Middleway water bottling plant
The Spirit of Jefferson | Wednesday, January 29, 2025
The Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board has raised alarms about a proposed water bottling plant in Middleway, citing potential harm to the surrounding rare wetlands, including a recent incident where a well installation caused a sinkhole on a protected farm property owned by William Hewitt. The California-based Sidewinder Enterprises LLC, responsible for the bottling operation, was fined for damages incurred during the initial well drilling, prompting a commitment to remediate the affected land. This situation underscores ongoing concerns about environmental impacts on local agricultural easements in Middleway.
