24 June 2008 - At the U.S. Conference of Mayors convention in Miami yesterday, a majority of about 250 mayors voted to phase out the regular use of bottled water for its employees and functions and, instead, promote the importance of municipal water.
According to Corporate Accountability International, over the past year, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (representing more than 1,100 mayors across the US) has investigated the economic and environmental impacts bottled water may have.
They found that bottled water is being sold for as much as 4,000 times the cost of tap water delivery even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source.
Corporate Accountability International also argues that U.S. cities are also spending more than USD 70 million a year to dispose of plastic water bottles.
The organisation points out that US cities are currently in the need of an additional USD 22 billion or more each year to maintain and expand public water systems.
"The resolution is seen as a means of rebuilding the public support needed to make this investment, in the face of an annual $150 million-plus bottled water advertising blitz that has eroded the public’s confidence in tap water. Today one in five people believe the only place to get water is from a bottle".
In response to the vote, the American Beverage Association said that the U.S. Conference of Mayors decided to embrace "sound-bite environmentalism over sound public policy by passing a resolution discouraging the use of bottled water by city government, rather than address the more pressing economic and pocketbook issues burdening American families".
"It’s disappointing that some mayors find it more important to spend their time attacking a healthy beverage at a time when families are suffering from floods, rising food and fuel costs and threats to their homes and jobs," added Kevin Keane, a senior vice president of the American Beverage Association.
In a statement, the American Beverage Association states that plastic water bottles are 100% recyclable and are in high demand to make new plastic bottles, carpeting, winter jackets, clothing and other consumer goods.
"We’re making a positive impact on the environment that goes far beyond politically expedient sound-bites ... There’s no other consumer products industry doing more to reduce its impact on the environment than the beverage industry", Keane said.
According to a previous report on FLEXNEWS, the United States (the world's top consumer of bottled water) consumed 8.823 million gallons in 2007. Compared to 2006, US consumption grew 6.9%.
US consultancy firm Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) even sees further growth again this year – a 6.7% increase to 9.418 million gallons.
According to the BMC, the wholesale dollar sales for bottled water in the US exceeded USD 11.55 billion in 2007 - a 6.4% rise compared to USD 10.85 billion recorded in 2006.