Contact:
John Keesecker, Food & Water Watch (202) 683-2500
Kate Fried, Food & Water Watch (202) 683-2500

Opposition to Bottled Water Flows Across Country:

Food & Water Watch Launches Campaigns to Take Back the Tap in Seven Additional U.S. Cities

Washington, DC. Today 18 restaurants in seven cities across the United States will demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment as they join Take Back the Tap, Food & Water Watch’s campaign to build support for public water and eliminate bottled water. The consumer advocacy group is working with cities across the nation to urge local restaurants and chefs to sign a pledge to switch to serving only tap water, help educate customers about the benefits of tap over bottled water, and whenever possible, install a carbonation machine to make sparkling water from the tap.

“Bottled water is nothing but a corporate hoax to trick consumers into paying hundreds, sometimes thousands, times more for a product than what it is actually worth,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. “Tap water is just as safe and healthy as bottled water, and is a far more cost-effective choice.”

Food & Water Watch launched its inaugural Take Back the Tap campaign earlier this year in San Francisco, California where 24 restaurants pledged to kick the bottled water habit.
 

“The growing momentum of the Take Back the Tap campaign signals an increasing opposition towards bottled water,” said Hauter. “The production and distribution of bottled water causes a host of equity and environmental problems. All Americans should have access to safe, affordable tap water.”

Food & Water Watch also released a guide for restaurants in each city that will highlight the benefits of eliminating bottled water and information about local tap water. 

Restaurants participating include:
Memphis, TN

Circa
Stella
Boscos Squared
R.P. Tracks

Boulder, CO

Sunflower Restaurant
Turley’s
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant

Durango, CO

Turtle Lake Refuge
Carver Brewing Co.
College Drive Café

Omaha, NE

Dixie Quicks Magnolia Room

Madison, WI

Lombardino’s Restaurant
Harvest Restaurant

Ann Arbor, MI

Zingerman’s Roadhouse
Café Verde Fair Trade Coffee Bar
Weber’s Restaurant

Albuquerque, NM

The Frontier Restaurant
Mario’s Pizza

The restaurant campaign is not the only way that Food & Water Watch is advocating for safe and affordable water for all. Food & Water Watch is working with college students around the country to end the use of bottled water on campuses and the group is leading a campaign for a federal water trust fund –– a dedicated funding source to provide for maintenance of the country’s aging water infrastructure.
Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights organization that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org