Monday, December 1, 2008

New York City May Close Tap on Bottled Water by Meredith Kolodner - NY Daily News

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Let them drink tap.

City Councilmen Eric Gioia (D-Queens) and Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) will introduce a bill next week that would stop city agencies from buying bottled water and water coolers for workers at city agencies.

The city spends $2.1 million annually on bottled water, according to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

"New York City has some of the cleanest water in the country, and we should use it," said Gioia.

He noted that the move would also save on storage and disposal costs and help the environment by reducing waste and truck traffic for water-delivery services.

The City Council has already imposed a similar ban on its offices.

Felder installed a $400 heating and cooling filter in his office this year, which he said was a more economical choice.