One of the persons interested in building a water bottling plant in Minocqua says public fears that they need a high capacity well are unfounded.
Trygve(Trig) Solberg and Robert Rynders have asked Oneida County for permits to build the plant in the town of Minocqua.
It was learned this week their original plans to bring water from near Carlin Lake in Vilas county to the proposed bottling plant in Minocqua would violate the Great Lakes Compact, the international agreement that holds Great Lakes water in that basin. Carlin Lake was just miles within that basin, while Minocqua is in the Mississippi River watershed.
Solberg is a well-known figure in natural resources circles. He formerly chaired the DNR's governing body, the Natural Resources Board. Solberg says he's looking for another water source, but says this is not a high-capacity well...
".....the amount of water we use, even on a daily basis is, like the water they use to irrigate the park in Minocqua, just across the street(from the proposed plant), they use 60,000 gallons a day. In three shifts, we'd use less than 20,000 gallons a day. I think this gets blown out of proportion..."
Solberg indicated they're looking for a water source that would work.
The Minocqua town board moved the matter to Oneida county. A public hearing is planned Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Minocqua Community Center.
