New $6M bottling plant opens at natural spring in Chilton County

Production at a new bottling plant for mineral water officially began this week in Jemison nearly two years after work began on the site.

Gov. Kay Ivey was on hand Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion. The new plant is part of a project by the Alabama Mineral Springs company to sustainably distribute mineral-rich water from a free-flowing spring in Chilton County.

Keep reading to find out more about the project + the significance of the site of the plant.

Alabama Mineral Springs LLC

The company was formed in 2019 to capitalize on the high quality water found in a natural spring that was first discovered around 165 years ago. This new $6 million bottling plant will produce the company’s “Simply Artesian” water which will go on sale to the public in July.

“Our mission is to save a precious natural resource and bring healthy hydration to a growing market. Our commitment lies in capturing the untouched purity and inherent goodness of Alabama’s mineral springs, which have been cherished by the local community for generations.”

~ Diana Windsor, sales and marketing manager for Alabama Mineral Springs

The spring is around 200 feet deep and brings up around 22,000 gallons of water to the surface every day. This will allow the company to bottle about 5,000 servings of water every hour.

Brenda Tuck, Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce, said Alabama Mineral Springs LLC’s venture is a prime example of an innovative project with a sustainability focus being launched in rural Alabama.

“This company recognizes the importance of sustainability and has worked hard to minimize its environmental footprint throughout the project. They have embraced responsible practices as a way of protecting the spring for future generations. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this venture.”

~ Brenda Tuck, Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce

History of Mineral Springs location

According to the company’s website, construction of the new plant began in June 2022 but the natural spring was discovered well before then.

The site’s spring has long been an attraction, having fueled a healing center for around 50 years, as well as a spa. In the 1990s, the Alabama Division of Youth Services established a boys and girls’ ranch there. Then the spring was abandoned for almost 25 years.

As part of its project, Alabama Mineral Springs LLC had to first remove tangles of wisteria vines, privet and holly trees that had grown undisturbed for decades. The company worked with the Collins Chapel Fire Department to remove the old Mineral Springs Health Resort Hotel, built in 1911, in a controlled burn that served as a training exercise in 2021.

“I am thrilled to see this historic site be revived by a business that wants to bring a healthy product that’s genuinely ‘Made in Alabama’ to the world. This project has been a labor of love, and I’m thankful to the folks of Alabama Mineral Springs LLC for seeing the great potential here.”

~ Gov. Kay Ivey

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