Coody looks to tap out water bottles
Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2008
Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody is asking residents to ditch their bottled water and drink tap water instead.
Setting the example, the city will no longer use public funds to purchase bottled water, he said.
"This is an important conversation that all of us need to have in America today," Coody said from the steps of the City Administration Building on Wednesday afternoon.
While water is available in a myriad of forms from spring, purified and mineral to electrolyte-enhanced, flavored and vitamin-enriched, Coody said the water that comes straight from the tap is just as good and not nearly as expensive.
"The Beaver Water District provides high-quality drinking water at our taps in our kitchens," Coody said. "And it cost one-third of a penny per gallon vs. $ 1. 30 plus tax for 23 ounces.
"As we complain about gas prices being $ 4 a gallon, we're paying $ 8 a gallon for drinking water."
Last month, Coody attended the Mayors Water Council in New York City, where the importance of municipal water was discussed.
"As Americans we take good, clean drinking water for granted," he said.
Despite the availability of clean drinking water, the bottled water industry continues to grow each year, he said.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp., bottled water consumption in the United States reached a record 8. 3 billion gallons in 2006.
Consumers are choosing bottled water because they think it's safer or purer than tap water, when in reality regulations on municipal water are more stringent, Coody said.
Amy Wilson, director of public affairs for the Beaver Water District, said water samples are tested numerous times throughout the day.
"We feel like we have a very safe, reliable, tested product," she said.
And there is no plastic waste to dispose of.
According to a 2007 resolution passed by the U. S. Conference of Mayors, plastic water bottles produced for U. S. consumption take 1. 5 million barrels of oil per year.
Oil is not only used in making the bottles, Coody said, but in transportation costs.
"This bottle was made in Pennsylvania and shipped on a truck to Arkansas, and it's essentially the same water provided at our tap with no transportation costs," he said, referring to a bottle he was holding.
Coody's announcement comes during a national movement to reduce the consumption of bottled water.
According to the Think Outside the Bottle campaign, more than a dozen cities, including San Francisco; Albuquerque, N. M.; Minneapolis; Seattle; Salt Lake City; and Austin, Texas; have banned or limited the purchase of bottled water because of the impact on landfills.
John Coleman, sustainability coordinator for Fayetteville, said eight out of 10 plastic water bottles are not recycled and end up in the landfill.
Because water bottles are so portable, they're often the only option provided at large sporting events.
Opportunities to recycle at such events are not always available, Coleman said, and unfortunately bottles tend to end up in the trash.
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