Substantial Cuts In Water Use Unlikely For Coke & Pepsi's Atlanta Plants - AJC

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Coke and Pepsi have stepped up efforts to use less water in key Atlanta production plants as state officials consider restricting industrial water use. But several years of aggressive water conservation within the beverage industry could leave few options for significantly more savings at the plants. "Sometimes there are things you can do but not sustain," said Bruce Karas, Coke North America's director of sustainability, safety and environment. "The opportunity to have huge gains aren't there anymore."

Georgia environmental officials could ask Gov. Sonny Perdue to limit the water used by commercial and industrial users as the state struggles through one of its worst droughts in years. State officials have said the current outdoor watering ban might not be enough to stretch depleting freshwater reserves in Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River.

Two plants owned by Coke and Pepsi are among the city of Atlanta's largest water customers. Coca-Cola's Atlanta soft drink syrup plant makes product for soda fountains across the Southeast and the World of Coke's 70-drink tasting room. Pepsi's Atlanta Gatorade plant is one of nine in the United States.

Executives at Atlanta-based Coke and Chicago-based Gatorade said they have received no requests from the state to cut back on water usage. However, the executives said they are voluntarily cutting back consumption beyond conservation programs already in place or in the works internally. "We feel the same sense of concern and the call to action concerning this drought," said James R. Lynch, senior vice president of supply chain for Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade, all Pepsi brands. "We completely understand the issues today may continue or even worsen."

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http://www.ajc.com/business/content/printedition/2007/10/23/sodawater1023.html