Backlash Against Bottled Water Growing

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Tap water is in again, as cities from New York to Paris, high-class restaurants, schools and religious groups favor the faucet over bottled water.

"With people no longer content to pay 1,000 times as much for bottled water, a product no better than water from the tap, a backlash against bottled water is growing," says Janet Larsen of Earth Policy Institute.

By the end of 2007, purchasing bottled water will be off-limits for San Francisco's departments and agencies, saving a half-million dollars each year and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

St. Louis is poised to ban bottled water purchases for city employees in early 2008. Since 1987, Los Angeles has restricted the purchase of bottled water with city funds.

The United Church of Canada is one of the religious groups abandoning bottled water for moral reasons. The Berkeley school district no longer offers bottled water.

Rome is promoting its tap water. In the United Kingdom, the Treasury and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have ceased offering bottled water at official functions.

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë serves only tap water at official events and encourages others to do the same.