Rick Heinrich

Richard Heinrich TN Dept. of Agriculture P. O. Box 40627Nashville, TN 37204 615 837-5193 615 837-5335

Rick HeinrichTennessee Department of AgricultureHogan RoadP.O. Box 40627Nashville, TN 37204(615) 837-5193

The Nestle Waters plant notwithstanding, the state already has some "gigantic" bottling operations, said Rick Heinrich, food and dairy administrator for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which inspects bottling plants and checks water for safety.

The biggest, perhaps, is Crystal Geyser Roxane Water Co. in the southeast Tennessee community of Benton.It produces bottled water that's sold by the case in national chain stores.

The company draws water through holes that were bored into the source of springs at the edge of Cherokee National Forest, Heinrich said.

But state officials have no idea how much is withdrawn.

Several efforts to contact company officials for comment were unsuccessful.

Tennessee is hardly alone in its concerns over water-bottling operations.

The Nestle Waters plant notwithstanding, the state already has some "gigantic" bottling operations, said Rick Heinrich, food and dairy administrator for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which inspects bottling plants and checks water for safety.

The biggest, perhaps, is Crystal Geyser Roxane Water Co. in the southeast Tennessee community of Benton.It produces bottled water that's sold by the case in national chain stores.

The company draws water through holes that were bored into the source of springs at the edge of Cherokee National Forest, Heinrich said.

Rick Heinrich, Food & Dairy Administrator (615) 837-5177