China's Billionaire Sparks Nashua Water War: What Comes Next?
A quiet real estate deal in Nashua, New Hampshire, has reportedly ignited a firestorm of concern among locals and lawmakers alike. When Nongfu Spring, China's largest bottled water company owned by billionaire Zhong Shanshan, purchased a sprawling 23-acre industrial site near the city's critical water infrastructure, it set off alarm bells about the future control of local water resources and national security. The $67 million price tag, nearly four times the property's assessed value, only added fuel to the growing unease.
A Billionaire's Bold Move
Nongfu Spring's acquisition of the long-vacant warehouse at 80 Northwest Boulevard has raised eyebrows not just for its staggering cost but for its strategic location. The property sits adjacent to the Pennichuck water system, which supplies drinking water to Nashua residents. It is also close to key defense installations including the Nashua Airport and several military bases. The company's plans remain unclear. However, the potential for large-scale water extraction has many questioning what this means for the community's water security.
Pennichuck Water Works CEO John Boisvert has sought to calm fears by emphasizing the system's excess capacity. According to Boisvert, the water system is permitted to withdraw over 30 million gallons per day, while average demand hovers around 11 to 12 million gallons per day, peaking at 20 million gallons per day in summer months, as reported by Newsweek. He said the system can easily accommodate Nongfu Spring's needs without jeopardizing supply. However, this reassurance has done little to quell the growing skepticism among residents and officials.
Local Voices Raise the Alarm
State Senator Kevin Avard has emerged as a vocal critic of the deal, warning that the purchase could threaten Nashua's water rights and sovereignty. Acccording to The Blaze, Avard noted that Nongfu Spring initially sought permission to pump 2 million gallons per day from the city's water supply but withdrew the request after public concern. He questioned the motives behind the inflated purchase price and the company's intentions, suggesting that this could be part of a broader pattern of foreign influence in critical local resources.
Avard's concerns echo those of Lily Tang Williams, a Republican congressional candidate and former Chinese citizen who fled the Cultural Revolution. Williams has been outspoken about what she calls a "soft power invasion" by China, where business acquisitions, media, and technology are used to expand influence without military conflict, as reported by Newsweek. She highlighted the Nashua deal as a prime example of this strategy, warning that foreign ownership of natural resources like water could undermine American sovereignty.
Government Steps In
The controversy has prompted action at the highest levels of New Hampshire government. According to the NH Journal, Governor Kelly Ayotte has ordered the state Attorney General's Office to review the circumstances surrounding Nongfu Spring's purchase. The review will focus on the involvement of state and local officials, transparency issues, and whether existing processes adequately protect the public interest.
Attorney General John Formella confirmed the investigation is ongoing, signaling a rare moment of scrutiny over foreign investments in critical infrastructure. Ayotte has expressed particular concern about the deal's rapid progression without sufficient public input or oversight. She and several Republican Executive Councilors have demanded clarity on the role of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs in promoting the purchase and what commitments Nongfu Spring has made regarding job creation or community impact.
The Price of Proximity
The property's proximity to sensitive sites has intensified fears. It neighbors not only the water system but also defense-related installations such as the New Boston Space Force Station and Hanscom Air Force Base. Critics argue that allowing a Chinese-owned company to control land so close to these facilities could pose national security risks.
Despite these concerns, city officials reportedly maintain that the deal was brokered under an economic development initiative and that the city itself had little direct involvement. Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess has described the city as a "spectator" in the process, urging residents to direct their questions to the state level, as reported by the NH Journal. The company's application for a building permit was withdrawn, but the debate over foreign ownership and control of local resources continues to simmer.
The Bigger Picture: Foreign Influence and Local Sovereignty
Experts warn that Nongfu Spring's purchase is part of a larger trend of Chinese firms acquiring strategic assets across the United States. Professor Kelly K. Gerchanek, a scholar on China's political strategies, notes that entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party have systematically targeted vital infrastructure and real estate, according to Total News. She has questioned whether China respects U.S. sovereignty in these transactions, suggesting that such acquisitions could be leveraged for political or economic influence.
The Nashua case is not isolated. Williams points to previous sales of land near Nashua Airport to Chinese investors, highlighting a pattern of acquisitions that often escape thorough review by U.S. authorities. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander has requested a retrospective review of Nongfu Spring's purchase by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), reflecting growing bipartisan concern over foreign control of critical American assets, as reported by NH Journal.
What's Next for Nashua?
City leaders have assured the public that any plans by Nongfu Spring to extract water or develop the property will be subject to standard regulatory and environmental reviews. Public input and permitting processes are expected to play a role in shaping the company's future operations.
Meanwhile, discussions continue at the state and federal levels about tightening restrictions on foreign land acquisitions near critical infrastructure. Lawmakers are pushing for legislation to ban land purchases by entities from countries deemed adversarial, including China.
For Nashua residents, the deal has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over how to balance economic development with protecting local resources and national security. The quiet billionaire purchase has alerted the community to the hidden forces reshaping control over their water and land.
References: China's Richest Man Buying Water Supply of New Hampshire Town Sparks Alarm | Ayotte Orders AG to Review Controversial Nashua Water Deal | Water supply in a small US town could be threatened after a wealthy Chinese businessman acquires key land. | Small US town's water supply may be at risk after China's richest man buys strategic property
