Welcome to Save Our Groundwater!

Save Our Groundwater (SOG) is a New Hampshire Seacoast-area citizens action organization dedicated to protecting water in the public trust. We formed in 2001 in response to a bottled water company's application to take more than 400,000 gallons/day from the aquifer underlying our rural communities. More than six years later, we're still holding the line.

The next Save Our Groundwater meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2008, 7-9 pm.
SOG meetings are held at the Sugar Shack on Route 4, one-half mile west of the Lee traffic circle. Look for the green Park and Ride sign at the driveway entrance. Hope to see you there!

News: 3/19/08 - SOG Welcomes Maude Barlow, Canadian Author and Water Justice Activist March 31 at the Portsmouth Public Library. Read the latest news release for the details of Maude's free public presentation and book-signing at the library, testimony at the New Hampshire Citizens Trade Policy Commission in Concord also on Mar. 31 and interview on NHPR's "The Exchange" Apr. 1.

News: 1/30/08 - SOG Board Member Olivia Zink a Union Leader '40 Under 40'

News: 12/12/07 - Save Our Groundwater Testifies Before Congress to Protect Water
View the proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Domestic Policy hearing on "Assessing the Environmental Risks of the Water Bottling Industry's Extraction of Groundwater"

Save Our Groundwater files Motion for Rehearing 9/20/07

Save Our Groundwater (SOG) filed a Motion for Rehearing 9/20/07 appealing the Dept. of Environmental Services (DES) Water Council decision denying SOG standing in the appeal #05-21 of the "New Sources of Bottled Water" approval granted by DES in the USA Springs, Inc. case - download motion saveourgroundwater.org/SKMBT_C55007091923180.pdf

Nottingham issues building permit to USA Springs, Inc./Garrison Place Real Estate Investment Trust

The Town of Nottingham issued USA Springs, Inc. a building permit July 26, 2007 despite the fact that four appeals with various state agencies were in process (including one filed with Dept. of Environmental Services Water Council by Nottingham!). The town received a fee of $112,500 for the issuance of the permit.

Save Our Groundwater Meets With DES Commissioner Thomas Burack

DES Commissioner Thomas Burack invited members of SOG's Board of Directors to meet with him in February 2007. The Board followed up with a March 2007 letter summarizing the concerns that were discussed and inviting him to meet with our members to hear their concerns directly. He accepted our invitation and attended a special SOG members meeting held May 10th. In July 2007, Commissioner Burack sent a lengthy, five-part reply to the concerns raised by SOG members.

Read SOG's March 2007 letter to Commissioner Burack:
/2007_0312_SOGLtr2Burack.pdf

Read Commissioner Burack's July 2007 reply to SOG by downloading the files below:
Part A - July 17, 2007 letter from Commissioner Burack

Part B - July 17, 2007 Application Issues Chart:

Part C - July 17, 2007 Groundwater Law Summary:

Part D - Commissioner Burack's July 17, 2007 Letter to Senator Jackie Cilley and Representative Judith Spang:

Part E - Senate Bill 155 Groundwater Study Commission November 2006 Interim Report: