Denmark, Maine, residents are contesting Poland Spring’s bid to keep withdrawing up to 432,000 gallons per day from the Cold Spring aquifer as the company’s permit nears expiration at the end of 2026. Locals report dry wells and a significantly low Long Pond even though drought maps have been updated. Maine Public’s review found January–September withdrawals rose nearly 23% year-over-year, while Poland Spring says drought—not pumping—is to blame. A 2024 town ordinance lets Denmark limit pumping and requires new permits after ownership changes; residents want the company treated as a new applicant and call for a new aquifer assessment.
Maine Town Pushes Back Against Poland Spring’s Bid To Pump 432,000 Gallons A Day
Photo Credit: Poland Spring
Residents of Denmark, Maine, are opposing Poland Spring’s request to continue withdrawing up to 432,000 gallons a day from the Cold Spring aquifer for another five years as the facility’s permit approaches expiration at the end of 2026, according to reporting by Maine Public.
Local Concerns
Community members say the effects are already visible: some private wells have gone dry and Long Pond remains far below its usual level, even though the U.S. Drought Monitor no longer classifies the area as in drought or abnormally dry. Residents contend that continued large-scale withdrawals threaten drinking water supplies, property values and recreation.
Company Response
Poland Spring seeks access to as much as 105.1 million gallons per year at the Cold Spring site, which has been permitted since 2005. A company hydrogeologist, Matt Reynolds, told Maine Public that "the groundwater is low, Long Pond is low, and that's due to the drought conditions," and the company says it voluntarily reduced withdrawals during drought periods.
Data And Dispute
However, Maine Public's review of monthly withdrawal records found that January–September takings in Denmark rose by nearly 23% year-over-year, a fact residents cite in questioning the company’s claims. Many locals frame the dispute as corporate profit versus community risk: Poland Spring’s parent, Primo Brands, reported more than $6.6 billion in sales in 2025, while the town receives about $34,000 annually in property tax revenue from the operation.
Local Ordinance And Next Steps
In late 2024 Denmark voters unanimously approved an ordinance on large-scale groundwater extraction that allows the town to reduce or stop pumping if aquifer levels fall below preset thresholds and requires extractors to apply for a new permit after an ownership change. Poland Spring argues the ordinance should not apply to the Cold Spring operation because it was adopted after the company's merger with Primo Brands; some residents disagree.
Former town water ordinance review committee member Audrey Rabinowitz has urged that Poland Spring be treated as a new applicant rather than a simple renewal and has called for a fresh aquifer assessment. With the current permit expiring at the end of 2026, the town faces hearings and potential legal and scientific review before a decision is reached.
Sources: Reporting by Maine Public and local town records.
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