Florida shouldnât be giving away groundwater to profit water-bottling companies without getting money back to restore the natural springs being affected. Proposals to charge a fee to water bottlers would help keep the cost of spring restoration projects from falling on the backs of other Florida taxpayers. Certainly the best option would be for the state to just reject damaging permits. The excessive pumping and pollution of groundwater harms Floridaâs springs as well as the stateâs drinking water supply. International companies are making huge profits selling that water to Floridians and other customers in plastic bottles. Nestle announced last month that it was selling its North American water brands to two private equity firms for $4.3 billion.