Nestle Waters donates bottled water to Mountaintop community

A bit of relief came for those on the mountain top Friday as Nestle Waters donated 1,600 cases of bottled water to the community that’s been without clean drinking water.

“It was an extremely nice gesture ... of Nestle to bring the water, and it certainly helps,” said Ken Shope, a resident of Snow Shoe Township.

Residents served by the Mountaintop Regional Water Authority, which provides water to Burnside Township, Snow Shoe Township and Snow Shoe borough, have expressed concerns about their water — with it ranging from milky white to green in color, and sometimes having dirt in it. It’s been under a boil water notice for more than a week.

Nestle Waters is considering Centre County for a $50 million manufacturing facility. State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Lock Haven, said CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier has been working with Nestle and suggested that this might be a way for the company to help the community.

Snow Shoe EMS served as the pickup location, but there were also volunteers to deliver water to the elderly who couldn’t make it.

“We’d do anything to help our community,” Snow Shoe EMS Chief Sharon Nilson said.

She said the EMS building would be open throughout the day for people to get water.

“It’s good to be here,” Hanna said. “And it’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, but this is all good here today that we’re helping some people out and getting some good, clean water for them until we can figure out the major problem and try and get it fixed.”

Pa. Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, was also around to lend a hand and talk to those affected by the issue.

And it was an opportunity for the younger generation to do some heavy lifting. About 30 students from Bald Eagle Area High School unloaded the water into the building and carried it out to residents’ cars.

“Our community does an awesome job supporting our kids in school through different activities after school and fundraisers and those types of things; it gives a lot to the school,” Principal Jack Tobias said. “So it’s a great chance for our kids to give something back in the community.”

Clarence Moose Lodge 1565 also ordered 504 cases to donate to the community. Pickup will be Monday, but no firm time has been set yet.

This story was originally published January 19, 2018 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Nestle Waters donates bottled water to Mountaintop community."