The Seattle University Spectator - Washington appeals Gregoire to Think Outside the Bottle

Washingtonians are taking new steps ban the bottle. Leaders of the Think Outside the Bottle Campaign presented a letter to Governor Christina Gregoire on Feb. 12, appealing the state government to cut production of plastic bottles and invest in public water systems.

Part of the economic stimulus package includes money allocated to public water systems to reduce the reliance on the private consumption of bottled water.

Almost 40 percent of bottled water comes from the same source as a kitchen tap, but the leaders of the Thing Outside the Bottle Campaign say that brand name bottled water has driven consumers to focus on image and forget about quality and natural water rights.

Similar appeals have been made by 50 states and over 1,000 governors in this national call to action. Last summer, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution asking all mayors to reduce taxpayer spending on bottled water. A study presented at the conference revealed that investing in public water systems can create jobs and increase the GDP.

Mayor Nickels of Seattle has said that the high quality of water in Seattle means that people should not waste their money on bottled water.

Nickels, as well as the mayors of Vancouver and San Francisco, have ended city spending on bottled water. The city of Seattle saved $57,000 in doing so. The Metropolitan King County Council also banned single serve bottled water.

Seattle University students made the move to "Ban the Bottle" last year. Now graduates Gretchenrae Callanta and Nick McCarvel succeeded in getting bookstore owner Bob Spencer to move towards changing the university's vending contract, but the university is still waiting on student consumption to reflect a lack of interest in bottled water.

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