“The nomination for this award was designed to recognise the company’s significant efforts over an extended period of time to reduce scheme water use at its Kewdale manufacturing facility,” a Water Corp spokesman said.
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“Assuming [Coca-Cola] continues to proactively reduce scheme water use, they, like all participants in the Waterwise business program, will be considered for an award next year.”
On Friday Coke and McGurk announced they had agreed to temporarily stop water extraction from the site.
Coca-Cola has government approval to take a maximum of 14 29,400-litre truckloads of water from its Irymple Road bore in Karragullen/Roleystone per week.
Approval was first granted by the City of Armadale in 1992, and the allowable water cartage has been expanded with ministerial approval twice since then.
That water is mostly used in its Neverfail bulk water business, but recently a small percentage has been used in its famous Mount Franklin and Pump products.
A Coca-Cola spokeswoman mounted a strident defence of its Karragullen operations. She said since 2021 it had extracted 50 per cent less water than the company was allowed under its agreement with the City of Armadale.
She said extraction volumes were reducing year-on-year and independent studies commissioned by Coca-Cola confirmed the sustainability of the operation.
“From the report received 15th May 2024, our water use in the local catchment surrounding Roleystone equates to 2.7 per cent of the calculated annual groundwater recharge. This is based on the long-term average rainfall in the catchment,” she said.
The spokeswoman said the review found the operation had no impact on neighbouring properties and did not recommend they stop extracting water, but they did so voluntarily given recent and predicted rainfall and current water table levels.
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“We are voluntarily ceasing water extraction at Karragullen until we see the aquifer replenishment return to an appropriate level,” she said.
“While [Coca-Cola’s] groundwater extraction in the local catchment is minor in comparison to other users, we acknowledge the dry conditions the region is currently experiencing, and we are committed to doing what we can to reduce our environmental impact.”
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