FitzGibbon Media is promoting the May 20 protests at two Nestle water bottling plants in Los Angeles and Sacramento to pressure the consumer marketing giant to end operations for the duration of the Golden State's drought.

More than 500,000 people have signed a petition asking the Switzerland-based combine to turn off the spigots for its Arrowhead and Pure Life Brands, which tap at least a dozen of California's natural springs.

Nestle Waters North America says it is investing in technology to slash water wastage at the plants.

Operations chief Jose Lopez, in a May 12 release, said technology that the company successfully uses around the globe is being deployed in the Golden State to help address the challenges of water scarcity, improve efficiency and relief pressure on resources.

While admitting that Nestle's water use has "come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks," the company says its nine California bottling plans use 1B gallons of the state's 13T annual consumption.

Nestle claims it has slashed water consumption about 33 percent during the past decade.

It plans to reduce water use by 40 percent this year compared to the 2005 level.