A wide protection perimeter
 To
avoid the risk of altering the original quality of
water resources, Nestlé Waters has established
exceptionally stringent protective measures for each
spring.
The protection of a spring generally extends to the
entire catchment area (referred to as the ‘impluvium’),
which often covers up to several thousand hectares;
this is the case for example at the Vittel and
Contrexéville springs, in the heart of France’s
Vosges mountains. An observation network permanently
monitors surface waters and controls human
activities within the perimeter of the impluvium and
around the catchment area.
In 1992, Nestlé Waters created Agrivair as a way to
encourage local farmers to adopt greener practices.
This advisory company uses multidisciplinary
scientific studies as a basis for recommending
rigorous agricultural practices, including crop
rotation, banning of phyto-sanitary products,
improving the balance of animal feeds, and so on.
This collegial approach to sustainable development
has put an end to intensive farming practices that
threatened the quality of resources and the
ecosystem balance. For their part, farmers have been
able to enhance their output with products that are
better aligned with new trends in consumer
preferences, thus ensuring the sustainability of
their operations over time.
This unique expertise in protecting resources and
monitoring their sustainability has now extended to
other continents. In Argentina, for instance, Nestlé
Waters, working with local authorities, defined and
put in place a protection plan for the ECO DE LOS
ANDES spring, where the "close" protection perimeter
covers 2,500 hectares
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