Tap Water Campaign

Hi Lori,

I have six studies in my collection that specifically explore "public" knowledge and attitudes towards drinking water. The most relevant one is the Roper study from 1999. A bit dated, but right on point for you. Posted to the list to share with all. Enjoy. http://del.icio.us/waterwordsthatwork/drinking

Eric Eckl

Water Words That Work
P.O. Box 2182
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 822-4265
[email protected]
Skype/AIM: ericeckl
http://waterwordsthatwork.com

I have always wondered if the giardia epidemics in the Midwest US in the 90s were partly responsible for the rapid growth of bottled water use? Remember, we were all warned to drink only bottled water for safety, and the national publicity was extensive. It had to have had an impact on attitudes toward tap water that may still be playing out today. Anyone done that study?

Mary Whitney

Program Specialist
Rachel Carson Institute
Chatham University
412-365-1686
Coolidge 120
[email protected]

This is an important issue, Lori, and good way to approach it, I believe. I suggest that you consider beginning first by testing and/or deploying the "tap water campaign" among the member municipalities of Metro Vancouver. At Richmond City Hall (a MetroVan member) the water of choice is still largely bottled water, purified by least sustainable means -- distillation and reverse osmosis. (Distillation often involves a large energy input and many RO systems actually waste three times as much water as they purify.) In fairness, I know that many city workers and other municipalities have already given up bottled water. However, I feel a bit hypocritical asking the citizenry to make changes that we the bureaucracy have yet to fully embrace and exemplify. A CBSM-inspired campaign would be a good step to getting the house in order. I look forward to hearing more.

All the best,
Neil

Lori,

I wish I had a comprehensive answer to your post, because this is an idea that's dear to my heart. I don't, but here's an example of one small action step from Banff ... The Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution in Banff National Park. Below is the text from an info insert that they use at some of their events, in lieu of offering bottled water. By using this approach, they both explain why they're not offering bottled water, and (one can hope) make people think a bit before they request it in other places.

Leslie Taylor

Councillor
Town of Banff
Banff Town Hall,
110 Bear Street Box 1260,
Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1A1
[email protected]

Hey Lori,

At Brown and Caldwell, we developed a simple internal campaign to enable employees to kick bottled water and use the tap. We provided each person with a stainless steel "thermos" from kleankanteen.com that we branded with our internal green brand/identity called BC Green. On distribution, we also included a short letter outlining how reusing the thermos and drinking tap water makes us a greener company and saves the environment. We're a relatively small environmental engineering firm of roughly 1,600 employees, so the cost was minimal. But the payoff has been outstanding. I'm in the Walnut Creek, CA, office (our headquarters) and it's pretty satisfying to see so many of the stainless steel "kanteens" in use - from meetings rooms to cubicles and offices, they're everywhere (I've even seen employees bringing them to our local health club). The reusable thermoses have also been pretty effective at getting the message out to clients that we practice what we preach - environmental sustainability. Anyway...hope it helps.

dan

Dan Foscalina
Marcom Supervisor
Brown and Caldwell
201 N. Civic Dr.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
v: 925.210.2216
f: 925.937.9026
[email protected]

check out: http://www.thinkoutsidethebottle.org/

Mark Gagliardi

City of Oakland
Public Works Agency
Environmental Services
Division 250
Frank Ogawa Plaza #5301
Oakland, CA 94612-2034
Phone/voice mail: 510-238-6262
Fax: 510-238-7286
e-mail: [email protected]
web site: www.oaklandpw.com
www.zerowasteoakland.com

There were a couple stories in US water news this week about policy changes/legislative efforts in US to restrict gov't purchase (ie using public funds) of bottled water:

State Rep in Connecticut proposes action:

http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcsupply/8lawmwant3.html and Mayor of Albuquerque prohibiting purchase of bottled for employees:

http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcconserv/8albumayo3.html

Julie

Julie Kollar,
Program Manager
Source Water Protection Promotion
Water Resources Education Network (WREN)
The League of Women Voters of PA
Citizen Education Fund
Phone: 267-468-0555
email: [email protected]
http://wren.palwv.org
www.drinkingwaterwise.org