California Versus BlueTriton: The Fight for Water Use

Abstract

Beverage company BlueTriton Brands, formerly known as Nestlé Waters North America, is battling a cease-and-desist order from California for diverting and collecting too much water from the state’s San Bernardino area. With climate change bringing an onslaught of severe weather conditions to the state, including droughts and catastrophic wildfires, BlueTriton may be forced into adopting more sustainable practices; indeed, the company is concurrently facing similar battles in other states. This case covers the fight for water use in California and asks students to determine what BlueTriton’s strategic response should be and what this bodes for its operations in other states.