Town Bans Bottled Water Sales

[The Northerner]

CONCORD, Mass. -- The town of Concord has banned the sale of bottled drinking water in town beginning in 2011.

"We only have one planet and I just don't want to see it spoiled," said Jean Hill, who introduced the measure at Concord's Town Meeting.

Hill said that New York, Illinois and Virginia, as well as more than 100 cities, have taken action to cut spending on bottled water.

The measured passed by Concord would allow the sale of refillable containers of water, which could still be sold and delivered in town. Only plastic bottles that companies cannot reuse would be banned.

"Water is something we can get from the faucet. You can't turn your faucet on and get soda," said Selectwoman Virginia McIntyre, explaining why other plastic bottles would not be banned.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23320994/detail.html

[csziggy]

1. So if I am driving through Concord Massachusetts and need to hydrate myself

I have to go someplace with a faucet and beg for a drink of water? Because although I drink water from reusable containers at home, if I am on a trip, I can't practicably carry enough water so I buy bottles of water as I need them. And the water that comes out of soda dispensers always taste nasty, like ultra diluted soda. Ick.

How are they going to take care of the needs of people who do not have access to a convenient faucet?

[Toucano]

2. Any gas station or rest stop has a faucet

that you can fill your reusable bottle from and be on your way.

Jeesh!

You do realize that selling water in bottles is a relatively new activity, don't you?

People didn't die of dehydration before the "convenience" of packaging and hauling around plastic bottles of tap water became common.

You'll all survive.

[csziggy]

6. Many of the rest rooms are so nasty I would not want to drink water from their taps

Far too many of the taps have soap build up and have obviously not been properly cleaned in ages. Believe me, I have looked at them.

And I do remember the days when getting a clean drink of water was difficult outside your own house. The one time I visited California they were in a drought and I had to go through twenty questions at every meal to get a glass of water at the table. I've had days when I could not find anywhere to refill my water jug that I carried with me - and ended up dehydrated as a result when I was traveling. Some places would give a complimentary cup of water - 4-6 ounces, barely enough to be a swallow.

No one seems to be proposing banning sodas in plastic bottles. Why not go back to charging a nickel for each container? Then people would have more incentive to return them, they could be re-usable and that could solve a lot of problems.

Other than when I am traveling, I do not purchase water in bottles. But I would hate to go back to the time it was a major hunt to find clean water to drink.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Actually in CA we have just that (CRV). Not sure how much it is helping

[malletgirl02]

9. Soda

I agree, with you on the soda point. If water plastic bottles are banned so should soda bottles, because you can get soda about of the fountain machine. Plus, soda is not healthy. I only really drink bottle water when I'm at work or traveling, but I make sure I recycle the bottle when I'm finish.

[csziggy]

24. The last time we went on a trip, the back seat of the truck

Was half full of bottles - mostly Mr. csziggy's soda bottles, since I would fill my big jug with ice wherever I could get it and top it off with water as I emptied it. We bring home all our recyclable trash and make sure it gets recycled.

Same thing at home - Mr. csziggy drinks soda or flavored fizzy water. Three quarters of our home garbage is his bottles and cans. He doesn't want me to buy him a SodaStream home fountain to cut down on the garbage. I may do it anyway - I'd bet once we have it he would like it - and like how much it cuts the recycling garbage.

[Radical Activist]

10. Every gas station soda fountain machine has a water tab.

You can grab a paper cup or reusable container and use that. Don't be so dramatic.

[Luminous Animal]

12. Every gas station has an outdoor faucet.

I've never had a problem getting permission to fill up my camping jugs. Most grocery stores and every mall has a bathroom that aren't filthy like gas station bathrooms.

[csziggy]

21. Yes, and the water that comes out of them tastes like diluted soda

I get tired of not getting good water from those things. I've also had the employees accuse me of stealing a soda. Some places charge for a full size drink and only allow the cups that are purchased from them (usually foam or plastic) to be filled at their soda fountains, even if all you are getting is water.

I have tried every variation of getting water - restroom faucets, outside faucets, complimentary mini cups, paying for cups of water at restaurants and stores, taking my own container into stores (and still being required to purchase water), carrying ten gallon Igloo coolers from home, buying water in the one gallon containers from the grocery store, etc.

Here is the deal - I buy maybe a half dozen individually size bottles of water a YEAR. I don't travel much and when I can I carry water from home. But there are times when I need water that the alternative methods are not available. I also resent a blanket prohibition of bottled water when NOTHING is being said about cutting the use of bottled sodas.

So don't accuse me of being dramatic - I have been there done that on just about every method of getting water to drink - including drinking from a natural spring by getting down on my knees and sucking the water directly.

[Radical Activist]

23. I guess you'll have to boycott that town.

I'd hate to see how you react to getting a paper cut. Damn.

[Luminous Animal]

3. Verily. The human population perished before the convenience of the plastic bottle.

[rpannier]

4. No it didn't

But, gas stations and other places used to provide somethings free of charge as a service -- like free air for tires, water for your car radiator, etc
Hell, you can't even use the bathroom without spending money at many stations

[Tailormyst]

7. It's scary- People want things to go back to the days when thousands would die every day

From lack of bottled water. They obviously hate America.

[Hannah Bell]

14. bottled water became ubiquitous in approximately the 80s. before that people

drove across the us, both ways, & the california & arizona deserts, & survived by carrying their own water or getting water at stops.

i think it's still possible.

[TK421]

27. Thank you for saying this....I agree.

[Canuckistanian]

19. OMG, I know- how did people EVER survive before bottled water?

Concord is going to be littered with people dying from dehydration.

We've got to stop this!

[JNelson6563]

22. +1

:-)

[Iggo]

25. Just keep on driving 'til you get to West Concord.

Know'm say'n?

[Gormy Cuss]

31. Or Lexington. Can't take more than 10 minutes to get out of Concord in most directions

and Lexington already has businesses designed to serve parched customers from the dry towns of Belmont and Arlington.
:P

[Dappleganger]

35. ROFL! Ya'll already runnin' the moonshine trail??

[my2sense]

5. k & r - Unless more measures such as this

are taken, we will trash this planet. It's time to give up some conveniences and look at the big picture. Where is all of our trash supposed to go?

[underseasurveyor]

11. Good! I hope more towns follow their lead

I bought one of those steel bottles at Sprouts market and haven't bought one bottle of water since.

[Hannah Bell]

13. good. it's one of the stupider things on the market.

[no_hypocrisy]

15. Bring back public water fountains where the water is free.

[jtrockville]

20. +1. I took my stainless steel bottle to a Nats game last year...

had a hard time locating a drinking fountain. Eventually, after climbing up to the peanut gallery I was successful. It's highway robbery what they charge for a plastic bottle of water at that stadium.

[xxqqqzme]

39. You cannot get into Angels stadium w/ water unless

it is still in its sealed plastic water bottle.

[2Design]

16. I hope they banned bottled soda and beer too which are a bigger seller and fill the streams and

oceans with garbage

[Beaverhausen]

28. + 1000

[2Design]

38. I can't help but believe soda and beer companies are behind this

people are drinking water because it is healthier

[Dappleganger]

32. Exactly. Seems hypocritical not to. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. A Lot Of People Will Just Buy Other Drinks That Come In Plastic Or Glass Bottles

What am I missing?

[Crabitha]

18. Tell them to send them to Nashville. There's a clean water shortage n/t

[LynneSin]

26. So what about all the bottles of Soda, Juice, Tea and other beverages

Most of them use the same type packaging as bottled water.

Instead of banning bottled water why not better your recycling system. Or even put a deposit on the bottles to help ensure they get returned to a recycling center.

[lefty2000]

29. Bring Back the Soda Fountain!

Let's buy our beer by the bucket, and our wine by the cask.

Speaking of which, I have a fine Amontillado in the cellar. Would anyone care to taste it?

Only one at a time, please....

;)

[Dappleganger]

30. Let's hope they never experience a blackout, hurricane, blizzard or tornado..

I'm sorry but banning bottled water just seems fascist to me.

[madfloridian]

33. Amen to that. After 3 hurricanes in 2004 we went through gallons of bottled water.

[Dappleganger]

34. Same here--will never, ever forget that summer.

BAM. BAM. BAM.

Who could've guessed one would be out of power for nearly two weeks in an area where the hurricane didn't really pass through, just the tornadoes??

We keep two weeks worth of water on hand for us and the pets because we know that shit happens!

[polmaven]

36. There are some second thoughts today

after the recent "boil drinking water" emergency. Concord wasn't involved this time, but next time ...who knows?

According to what I heard...one of my bosses lives in Concord...there isn't enough second though to turn it around.

The vote has to be approve by the state before it becomes law, of course.

[Dappleganger]

37. They would be wise to reconsider.

Natural/man-made disasters really do require a stockpile of water and access to emergency water.

[Beaverhausen]

40. don't forget earthquakes

here in california we are told to store water for that very reason.