Bellaire Water Co.

Bottoms Up

By Kristi Kates | Dec. 30, 2017

Excuse me, Evian, and move over, Mountain Valley. There’s a new thirst quencher in town, and just in time for your New Year’s Day hydration efforts, it’s coming to you direct from northern Michigan’s own underground waterways.
        
Owner Nate Rook started Bellaire Water Company back in December 2016, after departing Short’s Brewing Company, where he bottled beer for years.
        
“I wanted to bring a northern Michigan option for bottled water to the market,” Rook explained. “We have a class-two artesian well on our site that we pull the water from, and a choice of three different bottles.”
        
Two BPA-free plastic options, a 20 oz. ($1.29) and a liter ($1.59), share shelf space with a tall, narrow-necked glass bottle ($2.99).
        
“We added the glass bottle for people who might like something more elegant, for weddings or other special events,” Rook said.
        
Thinking ahead even farther, Rook explained that Bellaire Water Company wants to keep its environmental footprint as small as possible, so all of their no-deposit-required bottles are returnable for 5 cents each at participating northwest Michigan retailers.

Find a bottle at a local retailer near you (Imperial Beverage just picked them up for statewide distribution), or visit the company online at bellairewater.com.