The Ozarka Spring Water Company was founded in 1905 and is the most popular bottled water product in Texas. Ozarka joined Nestlé Waters North America in 1987 adding its name to a portfolio of 14 preeminent bottled water brands in North America and in Europe. Since 1992, Nestlé Waters North America has been a subsidiary of Paris-based Nestlé Waters, Nestlé Group. Ozarka is the sixth largest selling bottled water nationwide. Ozarka's company headquarters are in Irving, Texas.

Ozarka's Current Spring Water Operations

Four springs supply spring water for the Ozarka brand: Moffit Spring in Walker County, Roher Spring in Henderson County, Piney Woods Spring in Wood County and Clear Springs in Wood County.

Spring water is collected at these springs and hauled to the nearest bottling facility.

Ozarka Bottling Facilities

There are three main bottling facilities for Ozarka: one in Houston, one in Ft. Worth, and one in Hawkins.

 (Drinking water differs from "Spring Water" because it usually comes from municipal supply sources and is purified before bottling. See "Labeling Bottled Water" in the Water Info section.)

Ozarka Origins

Nestlé Waters North America bought Ozarka Spring Water Company in 1987 when its spring sources were located in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Ozarka had a business relationship with the owner of Cargile Spring in Polk County, Arkansas in which the company purchased spring water by the gallon or truckload and hauled it to the bottling facility in Fort Worth (a 24-hour turn around time with rest included for the driver.) Eventually, due to the rising costs of transporting the water, it was no longer economically feasible to continue the purchasing agreement. In addition, Ozarka found their Texas consumers preferred the lighter mineral content found in the East Texas springs. By 1989, Ozarka had transitioned into collecting spring water from only Texas springs. 

Jobs for Texans

There are 781 employees of Nestlé Waters North America in Texas, with an annual payroll of $34.4 million. Together with Nestle, there are more than 1,000 employees in the state. Nestlé Waters North America employees can be found in the following locations in Texas:

In Texas, Ozarka and Nestlé Waters North America generate well over $25 million in business annually with its network of more than 1600 suppliers, distributors and marketing partners.

Wide Variety of Employment Opportunities

Ozarka employs a multitude of skilled workers to run its bottling facilities and transport water products. A sampling of job opportunities at an Ozarka bottling facility includes Managers, Maintenance Mechanic Technicians, Production Technicians, Quality Control Technicians, Microbiology Technicians, Warehouse Technicians, Human Resource and Administrative personnel. 

Ozarka employees earn an average wage of $10-$15 an hour and are eligible for a package of excellent benefits including health and dental insurance, profit sharing, and 401K retirement savings.

Other Nestlé Waters North America Brands in the U.S.