Water bottling facility chooses Ephrata

EPHRATA — For more economic development in the Columbia Basin, just add water.

Or, in this case, a water bottling facility.

Cashmere-based Express Water and Nutrition approached the Grant County Economic Development Council in early February, seeking assistance in relocating its water bottling plant.

Express Water and Nutrition president Larry Gormley said Ephrata provides a central location between Spokane and Seattle, and is well placed to supply to larger markets in Nevada, Arizona and California.

"We're going to obviously focus a lot of our business in the area because the primary cost, from my viewpoint, of water distribution is distance," Gormley said. "If I can have more local customers, it's good for the customers and good for me, because it cuts costs."

The company has already purchased land south of Ephrata on Road A, and is in the process of acquiring permits to construct a 4,000-square-foot building. Gormley estimated the facility would be up and running in mid- to late summer, and said he does not anticipate hiring any new employees until the business grows.

The new building will house state-of-the-art reverse osmosis equipment and will make the company's Cascade Icicle brand water.

Gormley said the water in his company goes through a multi-step filtering process, resulting in water surpassing the industry standard of total density of solids.

"The end result is absolutely clean and pristine water," he said.

The water is currently being bottled in Cashmere, but the company will move all operations to Ephrata as soon as the new building is complete.

The GCEDC met with Gormley and provided information on tax incentives that apply to his project.

Gormley explained to the GCEDC the range of services his company will offer throughout the county, including water cooler service for home or office and custom labeled 16-ounce water bottles.

Jon Smith, GCEDC manager of communications and research, said Gormley approached the council after he had already selected the site and was in the permit process to see if he could receive any other help. The council provided him with incentives that would exempt the sales tax on the construction of the building.

"We have a water bottling company whose major client base is in the Seattle area, and yet the company chooses to come to Ephrata to do the bottling, and then ships the water back over the mountains to Seattle," Smith said. "I think that says a lot about our local communities and represents what a strong place they are to do business."

For more information about Express Water and Nutrition and the services it offers, call (425)-712-8823.