WIS10 News, SC - Columbia, other cities might phase out bottled water in city buildings

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - You could be seeing a lot more water coolers around the state soon. Offices for the city of Columbia have installed the coolers to try to keep employees from buying bottled water.
   
Officials say it helps the environment and people's budgets, and the idea could be catching on.

If you've ever doubted Columbia tap water, talk to Connie Lucious.

"I have a huge bottle that I bought. I fill that up several times a day," says Lucious.
   
She works in City Hall, where bottled water has been off-limits for several months.
   
Instead, water coolers filled with Columbia tap water have been placed throughout the building.
   
It's all in an effort to help the environment.

"I think it would be great if more people jumped on the bandwagon," she says.
   
That could be happening. The US Conference of Mayors met last month and voted to try and phase out bottled water from city buildings.
   
The "Think Outside the Bottle" environmental campaign says that the bottles, though recyclable, often end up in landfills.

"We have a committee that is looking at ways of saving energy and reducing our carbon footprint and this is just one small way," says Mayor Bob Coble.
   
He's talking about the Climate Protection Action Committee.
   
Coble says they're looking at different ways that the city can reduce emissions and help the environment.

"I think when we have our energy audit next month that'll be where we can really save tax payer dollars and energy costs," Coble told WIS News 10.
   
For now, the water coolers are a small step, but one in the right direction, according to Lucious.

"Being able to cut back on the bottles used for the water and using our own water is great," Lucious says.
 

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