I tell this story because bottled water is the mini-scandal of the week in Los Angeles. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa banned city agencies from buying bottled water for their employees.
The action followed a LA Times story Tuesday noting that L.A. had spent $88,900 on bottled water, "despite spending $1 million in the last two years to assure Los Angeles residents that their tap water is not only safe to drink but also top quality."
According to the Times, the agency that spent the most on bottled water was...the water department. Oops!
Villaraigosa's memo says:
"City employees who choose to buy bottled water in their office units at their own expense are encouraged to continue to do so. However, bottled water should not be provided at the city's expense."