Ozarka moves ahead with Wood County plans
Tests prove sound for water collection, bottling facility

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

David Feckley, Ozarka's natural resources manager for Texas, told the audience gathered at the Jan. 9 press conference that the company will conduct business without adverse effects on the water supply. Ozarka stressed they will follow their 10-point 'Good Neighbor Policy.' -Staff photo by Cope

January 17, 2002 -- The underground springs that flow beneath Hawkins and the surrounding area will supply the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water that Ozarka Spring Water Company will bottle and sell to the public.

The announcement to move ahead with water collecting and bottling plans that were initiated nearly two years ago was made by Ozarka leaders during a Jan. 9 press conference in Quitman, county seat of Wood County. From Ozarka's business venture, the county stands to economically benefit to the tune of about $46 million in added tax base by the end of 2003.

Ozarka has acquired 1,450 acres just north of Hawkins to develop new spring water sources and build a state-of-the-art bottling facility that was touted as one-of-a-kind in Texas and one of 14 of its type in the nation, according to Ty Brannen, new plant manager for the bottling plant. (The facility's design will be rated as energy- and environmentally-friendly as determined by the Green Building Council.)

Although the company has met opposition from some water conservationists and residents of the area, Ozarka tested the springs to determine if there would be any adverse affects to the environment or surrounding water sources and wells when the company begins water collection.

Of the three Wood County sites initially tested by Ozarka, two will be utilized in their water collection business.

David Feckley, Ozarka's natural resources manager for Texas, cited at a meeting in mid-year 2000 that if the hydrology tests proved the company's water retrieval plans would hurt the area's aquifers and water supply, then they would not carry out the plans.

At the Jan. 9 press conference, Feckley said, "I will let science drive my business."

Ozarka leaders stress they will provide "neighbors" with systemic science-based assurance that there will be no adverse impacts from the company's operations.

Of the two sites where water will be collected, one is on an 830-acre tract, and the other on a 250-acre tract. Both are north of Hawkins near FM 2869. The spring at the 830-acre site will be named Piney Woods Spring and the spring on the smaller tract will be named Harmony Springs, according to Feckley.

Ozarka also purchased 340 acres adjacent to the southernmost property for the bottling plant. The initial structure, set to be complete by January 2003, will be 400,000 square feet and operate two bottling lines.

Initially, Ozarka will hire about 55 people for jobs "in the $10 to $20 per hour" range and will grow to about 300. Kim Jeffrey, Ozarka's CEO, said on Jan. 9 that the company will probably hold a job fair to gather applications for the new bottling facility.

During the Jan. 9 press conference, company leaders emphasized Ozarka's 10-point Good Neighbor Policy which offers assurance on water conservation and education. The policy also lists a "drought curtailment plan" which says the company will curtail spring water operations if Feckley (natural resource manager) determines that "the spring flow due to drought is too diminished."

Feckley has an undergraduate degree in geology and a master's degree in hydrogeology from Baylor University. He has worked for environmental engineering/hydrogeology consulting firms in Texas for six years before joining Ozarka in 1998.

The policy also noted that "ongoing scientific analysis ensures that Ozarka bottles only the amount of water that can be collected safely, without disturbing the long-term equilibrium of the spring and its aquifer." This company policy was carried out when one of the properties initially tested by Ozarka showed "that several springs on the (1,100-acre) property were not prolific enough to sustain long-term spring water collection without an associated environmental risk."

Jeffrey concluded the press conference by stressing that Ozarka is "responsible and accountable for the business we do" and Ozarka will "give back to the community. ... I am positive we will make you proud."