The Republican Governor of Maine has just set a dangerous precedent by helping corporation Nestle secure a contract that gives its subsidiary permission to take the town of Fryeburg’s groundwater for at least 25 years for their own profit, in a deal that could potentially stretch to 45 years, US Uncut report.

This will be the first time in United States history that a contract ties up local water resources for such a long time. Activists worry this is just the beginning of corporations attempting to take water from rural towns.