News from the Take Back The Tap Campaign
Up one levelLocal Activists, Our Santa Fe River and Food & Water Watch Halt Attempt to Privatize Gilchrist County Water as County Commission Denies “Special Use” Permit for New Water Extraction Facility
October 2, 2008
Press Release: Over 200 residents from Gilchrist, Alachua, Columbia and Suwannee Counties came out on Tuesday to demonstrate their opposition to a proposed bottling facility along the Santa Fe River. After six hours of public testimony the County Commission voted 4-1 to deny a "special use" permit to allow Blue Springs Properties Inc. to extract water from a spring on the river. The new bottling facility would have pumped a minimum 500,000 gallons of water a day. Coca-Cola already operates a facility 5,000 feet from the proposed site that can pump up to 1.2 million gallons of water a day.
Governor Schwarzenegger Vetoes AB 2275: Statement From Food & Water Watch California Director Mark Scholsberg
September 30, 2008
Press Release: "At a time when the state of California is facing growing water shortages, we are disappointed with the Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to veto AB 2275. With water rationing taking place in many communities, Californians should have a right to know how much of our precious water resources are being extracted by bottling companies. Bottled water threatens local water resources and has devastating environmental impacts. The legislature supported AB 2275 by a large margin and we hope that next year the Governor will share our view that the water issues this bill addresses are indeed high priority issues for California."
Great Lakes Compact Passes the U.S. House, International Coalition of Water Advocates Calls for Additional Protections for Great Lakes Waters
September 24, 2008
Press Release: On Tuesday, the U.S. House passed the Great Lakes Compact, which aims to ban diversion of Great Lakes water. Hailed as a landmark conservation bill by many, the Compact will ultimately fail to stop corporations from withdrawing and selling water as a commodity. Despite efforts launched by an international coalition lead by Food & Water Watch and the Council of Canadians to ensure a more comprehensive agreement, the Great Lakes Compact passed the U.S. House yesterday by a vote of 390 to 25.
Shapleigh Stops Poland Springs' Spigot
September 24, 2008
Press Release:The people of Shapleigh, Maine voted overwhelmingly Saturday to halt Nestlé’s water mining activities. The vote represents a community victory against the multinational company’s plans to develop new water sources for its Poland Springs bottling brand in Maine.
The Film Nestlé Doesn’t Want You to See: FLOW Highlights Impending Global Water Crisis
September 19, 2008
Press Release: Across the country and around the globe, communities are now locked into fierce battles over their most essential resource: water. As bottling, privatization, underfunding, and pollution threaten their water supplies, people from Felton to Fryeburg and from South Africa to Bolivia are facing the same problems. Corporations like Nestlé are buying up control of water resources, turning shared resources that are indispensable for everyone into private property to be exploited for profit. A global water crisis looms, and it is no accident. Irena Salina’s new film, FLOW provides a clear look at the issues we face relating to water.
International Bottled Water Association Distorts the Truth About Bottled Water: Food & Water Watch Responds to Industry Claims of Environmental Stewardship
May 17, 2008
Press Release: In an open letter issued late last week to select members of the environmental community, Tom Lauria, Vice President of Communications of the International Bottled Water Association made several claims intended to illustrate the industry’s “continued environmental stewardship.” Yet Lauria’s assertions are nothing more than hyperbole spun to hide the fact that corporations continue to get rich at the expense of a natural resource and the communities and families that rely on it for sustenance.
Fervor Against Water Extractions Extends to Gilchrist County Florida
September 16, 2008
A group of citizens in Gilchrist County, Florida is mobilizing against a potential contract to extract and bottle more water from the Santa Fe River, demonstrating that momentum against the corporate control of our nation’s water resources is growing. While a “special use” permit has been filed by a campground called Blue Springs, the company that would ultimately profit from the operation has not been revealed. If approved, the new bottling facility would pump a minimum 500,000 gallons of water a day. Coca-Cola already operates a facility 5,000 feet from the proposed site that can pump up to 1.2 million gallons of water a day.
FLOW: For Love of Water Highlights Impending Global Water Crisis
September 10, 2008
Los Angeles, CA—The L.A. area is in a near-constant state of water shortages and droughts. Water supplies cannot keep up with an exploding population, and conservation measures, such as the recently re-launched Drought Buster program, are being instituted to attempt to rein in the crisis. Other solutions are being sought, too; a private company now has all necessary permits to begin building a controversial desalination plant in Carlsbad. But desalination is expensive and threatens marine environments, and creates an opportunity for corporate, profit-motivated control of water resources. With demand ever increasing, the area’s water supply, and citizens’ public control of it, will continue to be in a state of instability.
Food & Water Watch Supports Senate Bill 790 Requiring Disclosure of Contamination in Bottled Water
September 10, 2008
Washington, DC—Today the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality will hear testimony on SB 790, which amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require manufacturers of bottled water to submit annual reports about contamination. Wenonah Hauter, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch will testify to the subcommittee about the environmental, economic and equity issues associated with bottled water and to call for increased funding in public drinking and wastewater infrastructure.
Bottled Water Bill Passes California State Assembly, Moves to Governor For Approval
September 10, 2008
Sacramento, California—In an era of increasing water scarcity, the California Assembly overwhelmingly passed AB 2275, a bill to protect the public’s right to know how its water is being allocated. The bill, which is authored by Assembly member Felipe Fuentes, is now before Governor Schwarzenegger for his approval.
Food & Water Watch to Take Back the Tap at Slow Food Nation: 50,000 People to Say No to Bottled Water at Landmark Bottled Water-Free Event
August 28, 2008
San Francisco, CA—Tomorrow, some 50,000 people will enjoy access to clean, safe tap water at Slow Food Nation thanks to Food & Water Watch. The consumer advocacy group is partnering with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to develop accessible and visible water stations at the festival. Water stations will serve filtered municipal tap water using state of the art technology from US Pure Water/The Water Store and will display visual materials to educate attendees about San Francisco’s watershed and the campaign to promote tap water consumption.
Food & Water Watch, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay Issue Call for Water Trust Fund
August 21, 2008
On Wednesday, Food & Water Watch joined St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay in providing 5,000 reusable drinking water bottles to City employees, banning the purchase of bottled water by city departments, and issuing a call for a federal trust fund for water infrastructure. The actions marked the City’s leadership in a nationwide effort to provide safe and affordable drinking water through increased federal funding of public water systems.
City Council, Restaurants, Launch Take Back the Tap Portland Restaurants to Give Up Bottled Water, Support Tap Water Funds Instead
August 19, 2008
Portland, ME - Today, Food & Water Watch, the City Council of Portland, Peace Action Maine, and local restaurants joined together to launch Take Back the Tap Portland. The campaign highlights the social, economic, and environmental problems with bottled water industry; the need for increased funding for public tap water; and the importance of celebrating and protecting Maine watersheds. Restaurants, government officials, and local advocacy organizations are encouraging tap water over the bottled brands as the best choice for Mainers’ health, environment, and economy.
Activists in McCloud Celebrate Withdrawal of Nestle Water Bottling Contract
August 6, 2008
San Francisco, CA--Activists in McCloud, California won a decisive victory yesterday when the bottled water giant Nestle announced it will kill its water-bottling contract with the McCloud Community Services District. Inked in 2003, the deal would have allowed Nestle to pump up to 200 million gallons of water from nearby Mt. Shasta springs, enough water for 614 typical U.S. families. The bottled water giant had since scaled back the plan due to mounting public opposition led chiefly by the Protect Our Waters Coalition.
Food & Water Watch, Corporate Accountability International and Council of Canadians Endorse Global Water Crisis Film “FLOW”
August 6, 2008
EW YORK, NY – August 7, 2008 – Today, several leading United States and Canada-based advocacy groups have joined forces to support the highly anticipated U.S. theatrical release of FLOW (www.flowthefilm.com) by Oscilloscope Pictures, a distribution company founded by Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys. The announcement was timed to coincide with Nestlé Company’s (VTX: NESN) plan to release its half-year results today and follows headlines detailing recent setbacks for Nestlé Waters’ original contract with McCloud, California to build a one million square foot bottling facility. The coalition includes several organizations such as Food & Water Watch, Corporate Accountability International and the Council of Canadians.
Food & Water Watch Expands Campaign to Take Back the Tap in California
August 7, 2008
San Francisco, CA. Today six more restaurants in California 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 California and 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.
Take Back The Tap: 50,000 People Say No To Bottled Water At Slow Food Nation
August 5, 2008
Press Release: According to a new guide released by Food & Water Watch, event organizers, whether throwing garden parties, conferences, or citywide street festivals, can join the growing movement against bottled water. The national consumer advocacy group will provide tap water for the inaugural Slow Food Nation event over Labor Day weekend.
California Department of Public Health Protects Bottled Water Corporations Instead of Consumers By Opposing “Right to Know” Legislation
July 31, 2008
San Francisco, CA--Despite the increasing importance of efficient water management the California Department of Public Health has labeled the amount of water commercially bottled in California as a “trade secret.” In a recent letter from the department to Assembly member Felipe Fuentes, author of Assembly Bill 2275, the department argues that the bill’s requirement that bottled water facilities disclose the volume of water bottled would reveal “confidential business information.”
International Coalition Emerges to Protect Great Lakes Waters Against Private Exploitation
July 31, 2008
Chicago, IL – Yesterday the U.S Congress’s House Judiciary Committee approved the Great Lakes Compact, an agreement between the 8 states of the Great Lakes Basin, which lays out takings guidelines from major water supplies in that area for use by large scale projects and private enterprise. Yet many of the exceptions outlined in the Compact are bad for consumers and the environment. A coalition between Food & Water Watch and the Council of Canadians has issued a set of recommendations in response to the Compact to ensure that water remains a public resource and is not subject to the exploitation of profit-hungry corporations.
Food & Water Watch and Riverkeeper Launch Take Back the Tap - New York
July 29, 2008
Press Release: Food & Water Watch and Riverkeeper kicked off their Take Back the Tap – New York campaign at the Bowery Hotel’s Gemma. In honor of Restaurant Week, the two partner organizations are calling on New York restaurants to celebrate and support New York’s world famous tap water by taking bottled water off their menus.
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