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Bottled Water Strikes Back!

Yesterday, we wrote about cities' touting the drinkability -- nay, deliciousness! -- of their tap water. Unsurprisingly, the International Bottled Water Association isn't took keen on the whole idea of the tap.

Yesterday, we wrote about cities' touting the drinkability -- nay, deliciousness! -- of their tap water.

Unsurprisingly, the International Bottled Water Association isn't took keen on the whole idea of the tap. We got a press release email from the IBWA yesterday, responding specifically to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's executive order banning city agencies from buying bottled water for their employees.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has issued an Executive Directive to ban the purchase of bottled water by San Francisco City and County governments.  The Mayor's order contains a number of misinformed statements....

It is unfortunate that San Francisco city and county employees will not be able to enjoy the benefits of bottled water because government administrators have focused on one narrow segment of bottled beverages.  Bottled water is growing in popularity because people appreciate its consistent quality, taste, and convenience and choose bottled water over the other beverages because it does not contain calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors, alcohol and other ingredients.

Bottled or tap? Let the water wars begin!

Here's the full IBWA position statement:

1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 650

Alexandria, VA 22314

Ph: 703-683-5213

Fax 703-683-4074

Web: www.bottledwater.org



POSITION STATEMENT

June 25, 2007

 

SAN FRANCISCO MAYORAL BAN ON BOTTLED WATER PURCHASES

IGNORES IMPORTANT FACTS

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has issued an Executive Directive to ban the purchase of bottled water by San Francisco City and County governments.  The Mayor's order contains a number of misinformed statements.  The fact is that bottled water is comprehensively regulated as a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the State of California, which mandates stringent standards to help ensure bottled water's consistent safety, quality and good taste.  By law, FDA bottled water standards must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for municipal drinking water systems.

 

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) applauds San Francisco for an admirable job of providing safe drinking water to its citizens and stands ready to work with Mayor Newsom and city and county leaders across the country to address the need for safe drinking water for healthy communities.  However, the Mayor's comments and actions only encourages an unnecessary and confusing "bottled water versus tap water" debate.  Interestingly, the Mayor has ordered the use of "bottle-less" water dispensers--also known as point-of-use filtration systems--in place of bottled water coolers, rather than drinking water straight from the tap.

 

It is unfortunate that San Francisco city and county employees will not be able to enjoy the benefits of bottled water because government administrators have focused on one narrow segment of bottled beverages.  Bottled water is growing in popularity because people appreciate its consistent quality, taste, and convenience and choose bottled water over the other beverages because it does not contain calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors, alcohol and other ingredients. 

 

Plastic beverage bottles are among the most recycled packaging in this country and beverage companies continue to reduce the amount of plastic used in their packaging.  Rather than focusing on one beverage choice, it would make more sense for our government officials to focus on improving recycling rates for all consumer packaging.

 

Bottled water is one of thousands of packaged foods and beverages used by consumers every day and bottled water containers are fully recyclable and should be properly recycled through whatever system a local municipality has in place.  Overall, the bottled water industry, like many others in the food and beverage industry, works to reduce its environmental footprint. 

 

The bottled water industry is also a leader in environmental conservation and stewardship.  A study conducted by the Drinking Water Research Foundation shows that annual bottled water production accounts for less than 2/100 of a percent (0.02%) of the total ground water withdrawn in the United States each year.  The bottled water industry uses minimal amounts of ground water to produce this important consumer product--and does so with great efficiency.  Even though it is a small ground water user, the bottled water industry has been instrumental in encouraging states to develop comprehensive, science-based ground water management and sustainability policies and laws.

# # #

 

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters.  Founded in 1958, IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers.  IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high quality bottled water products.  In addition to FDA and state regulations, the Association requires member bottlers to adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent than federal and state regulations.  A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice is an annual, unannounced plant inspection by an independent, third party organization.  Consumers can contact IBWA at 1-800-WATER-11 or log onto IBWA's web site ( www.bottledwater.org) for more information about bottled water and a list of members' brands.  Media inquiries can be directed to Manager of Communications Tom Gardner at 703-647-4607 or tgardner@bottledwater.org.

 

Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
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