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Post by Penny on Jun 25, 2007 15:32:57 GMT -5
Tell us about the bottled water ban starting in San Francisco?
just saw a short article on AOL
Just curious if you have read more on it.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 25, 2007 15:58:09 GMT -5
There are so many nutty things that get proposed here, it's hard to know where to start. I don't specifically remember this one, so if you can send me the link I will try to figure it out!
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 25, 2007 19:24:04 GMT -5
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Post by Truffaut on Jun 25, 2007 20:56:34 GMT -5
Amen, hallelujah, praise Jesus!!! Once again, Newsom is right! Bottled water is just a pacifier for Americans who make too much money and don't have anything better to spend it on than "make-believe" pure water!
My sister-in-law lives across the road from the entrance to Poland Spring (Maine) and they have NO GROUNDWATER in the area! They truck in "spring water" from destinations throughout the US, and BOTTLE it in Poland Springs. Take a close look at the label!
Just as in most of the developed world, tap water is as good as "spring water". And it's high time that somebody took the bull by the horns and tried to stop the amazing amount of hydrocarbon pollution that's created from making little plastic bottles full of water to bilk the public!
OFF MY SOAPBOX NOW! Sorry for the rant! ;D
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 25, 2007 21:15:33 GMT -5
Interesting point of view, Truffaut. Hmmmm....Arrowhead Spring Water is pumped out of the ground about a mile from my house and trucked off to a packaging plant somewhere. And it just so happens that 2 days ago we were notified that the eitire city must conserve water because we are in dire straights all of a sudden (we have always had plenty of water). They told us NO landscape watering, NO car washing, shortened showers, and only wash your clothes if absolutely necessary!  Guess that's a good excuse not to do laundry this week, huh?!  But you raise some good points, and I'm thinking I may have to do some investigation into our "water shortage". |
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 25, 2007 22:04:03 GMT -5
This thread reminds me of one expression that came in very handy when I was in Paris: "Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plait."
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 25, 2007 22:55:10 GMT -5
To me, it makes sense just on an economic basis, so maybe not so "nutty" after all -- what on earth was the city government thinking of, spending that kind of money on bottled water? (On the other hand, I live in Berkeley -- which well deserves its title as the world's center of nutty ideas!)
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Post by phread on Jun 26, 2007 0:44:20 GMT -5
I always wondered what harmful chemicals the plastic is off gassing into the water... eau de Seine is fine for me!!!!!
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 26, 2007 6:51:13 GMT -5
Phread, ma chère, take you for giving me an other reason to drink Champagne, beer and wine! ;D
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Post by iank9 on Jun 26, 2007 12:10:59 GMT -5
Sorry Truffaut, but onto my soapbox. I find some of the suggestions contained in this thread, I am sorry to say, annoying.  A similar suggestion was made on another forum. I replied to that also (a fact I know some of you are aware). There is a suggestion that people who buy bottled water : (This forum) Have too much money with nothing better to spend it on Are subject of some sort of con or being cheated by the bottled water industry (Another forum) Are tourists who are too stupid to know any different We certainly do not have too much money, what we have we work hard for and save to enjoy an annual trip to Paris, and our caravan weekends. Too much money? We wish! The suggestion that only dim tourists drink bottled water in Paris is quite frankly pathetic and absurd. I do not consider myself subject of a con by the bottled water industry. We have a friend who visits and maintains water purifying systems in office and other accomodations. The equiment filters tap water prior to it been dispensed. Every 6 months those filters are either cleaned or replaced. I have seen them. They are filthy. If you wish to drink tap water that is fine- go for it. It is your choice. I choose to drink bottled water- that is my choice. By the way I see Mayor Newsome and yourself see this as a way of stemming global warming. I agree, and we recycle as much as we can. But things are getting urgent, so what else can we stop to help the planet? The rapid growth in long haul/short haul flights? A green tax is suggested on air fuel. Ownership of second homes with the extra heating/lighting etc required? An increase in a local tax is being suggested. Petrol guzzling 4X4s? A total ban by some is suggested and already huge increases in vehicle tax. All very "popular" and "eye-catching" suggestions in the UK at the moment. Lets increase petrol duty in the developed world- a carbon tax to stop our reliance on oil and develop other forms of energy. That should go down well in the oil rich nations. Will Mayor Newsome address these issues as well, or is this in fact just a cost cutting measure to save tax payers money? Off my soapbox now!  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 26, 2007 12:21:07 GMT -5
Ian, part of what's in play here is that the City of San Francisco gets its water from a reservoir high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range -- it's about as pure and fresh as anyone can wish for (and in fact, it used to be bottled and sold, long before the current popularity of bottled water). I don't know how much detail the various articles have had, but Mayor Newsom is right that there really is no need for bottled water for city employees. Plus, he's not talking about small bottles or mineral water -- he means the 5-gallon containers that are placed over a dispenser, usually with small paper cups that are used once and discarded (another environmental issue); it's not usually anything special in terms of water quality, it's just slightly more convenient than walking to the nearest drinking fountain or faucet to get water.
And, in general, I don't disagree with anything you've said! We often get a bottle of water at a restaurant (we just object to the way some places keep bringing more without asking, thereby somewhat surreptitiously upping the bill substantially).
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Post by iank9 on Jun 26, 2007 12:28:36 GMT -5
Thanks for that Becky, I did read the link, but the background info is appreciated! |
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Post by yoginla on Jun 29, 2007 4:26:15 GMT -5
I read the article about San Francisco's ban on bottled water and my first reaction was "GREAT". I'm sure we would all be shocked if we knew the number of plastic bottles of water consumed on a daily basis. What gets me on this issue is that so much water (and plastic) is wasted on half used portable bottles...more than other beverages I'm certain. Will be interesting to see how this spreads.
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Post by goldenmama on Jun 29, 2007 7:07:30 GMT -5
I exalted you, Ian! Every plastic bottle I use goes in the recycling bin, and I do try to limit what I can. But I find that bottled water is so much better to use, especially when exercising. Sports bottles and their tops can be hard to clean and can get germy.  |
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Guess that's a good excuse not to do laundry this week, huh?! 
But you raise some good points, and I'm thinking I may have to do some investigation into our "water shortage". 
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha