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| Hilo, Hawaii News, Sports, & Information |
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2006 6:55 AM HST
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Japan thirst for Hawaii deep seawater drives industry
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HONOLULU (AP) _ Japan's thirst for bottled Hawaiian deep seawater -- after it's been desalinated -- is driving a booming industry on the Big Island. Sales reached nearly 17 (m) million dollars last year.
According to state export statistics, demand for the water that sells for up to six dollars a bottle is increasing, making it one of the state's hottest exports.
The water is pumped to the ocean surface via a pipeline that dips three-thousand feet under the surface near the National Energy Laboratory on the Kona Coast.
Most of the water is bottled and exported to Japan by companies that pay the state to certify the water as authentic.
Bottlers are also trying to develop a local and U-S mainland market for the exotic water.
(Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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