Nestlé has received official authorization from French authorities to drill five exploratory boreholes for mineral water in the Vosges region. According to an order issued by the prefecture on June 11, the drillings are planned in the communes of Vittel and They-sous-Monfort and are intended to identify new sources for the Hépar mineral water brand. The exploration phase includes geological surveys and aims to evaluate the potential of the terrain over a period of up to three years.
A spokesperson for Nestlé Waters stated that such exploratory activity is a standard part of the company’s operations in natural mineral water and stressed that they are currently assessing possible future sources for Hépar. However, the decision by the prefecture may still face appeals, which must be filed within two months.
The timing of the approval is particularly sensitive. It follows intense scrutiny over Nestlé Waters’ past practices. In 2023, production at some Hépar wells was halted due to environmental concerns, including extreme drought and rainfall. More recently, in May 2025, a French Senate report revealed that both the company and the French government were involved in concealing the use of unauthorized water treatments, including UV disinfection and microfiltration, at sites such as Vergèze and Vosges. These methods contravene EU regulations, which prohibit altering the natural properties of mineral water.
Although Nestlé claimed to have ended these practices by early 2024, it still faced legal and reputational consequences, including a EUR 2 million (USD 2.2 million) fine to settle cases related to the use of illegal sources and treatments. The company has since separated its water division into a standalone unit and is reportedly evaluating strategic options, including a potential sale.
Most recently, Nestlé confirmed it had identified a technical solution for water treatment at its Vosges site—affecting Contrex and Hépar—but added that it still requires regulatory approval. The Vittel brand, also owned by the company, is reportedly unaffected by the latest treatment restrictions.
The newly authorized drilling project therefore marks a cautious return to operational expansion for Nestlé Waters, amid ongoing regulatory oversight and public skepticism following one of the most high-profile consumer fraud cases in France's beverage industry.
