On World Water Day, Stimulus Flows to Public Water

Vermont Taxpayer Dollars Still Go for Bottled Water

For Immediate Release:  March 23, 2009

Contacts:  John Stewart, 214-707-0340
Sara Joseph, 617-695-2525

MONTPELIER – To mark World Water Day, Vermonters are calling on Governor Douglas to cut a $47,000 state contract with bottled water corporation Crystal Rock/Vermont Pure and invest needed resources in public water systems. Today leaders of the local Think Outside the Bottle campaign sent a letter with their request to the Governor’s office. Similar actions and appeals are taking place across the country this week as $6 billion in stimulus dollars for public water works its way to state coffers.

Though around $38 million of stimulus funds is to be allocated for both drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in Vermont, this is just a fraction of the $219.2 million worth of required projects according to Vermont’s most recent Intended Use Plan.

“Quick action by governors can send the message that in these difficult economic times, state government can both cut waste and invest in shared public resources, like water, upon which local economies rely,” said John Stewart, the Vermont organizer with Corporate Accountability International, the organization leading the Think Outside the campaign to expose the social and environmental impacts of bottled water.

As the bottled water market has grown, public confidence and financing for public water systems has rapidly diminished. Bottled water marketing has much to do with the tap’s tarnished public image, though as much as 40 percent of bottled water comes from the same source (brands like Dasani, Aquafina and Pure Life).  

But thanks to efforts like Think Outside the Bottle and collective action by more than 1000 mayors this summer, such truths about bottled water is now better understood.

“Not only is cutting bottled water a common sense way to save taxpayer money, but it sends the right message about the importance of maintaining Vermont’s vital public water systems,” said Mayor Mary Hooper of Montpelier. She said the city has already committed to eliminating spending municipal funds on bottled water.

Last summer, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution that encourages all mayors nationwide to phase out taxpayer spending on bottled water.  A study prepared for the Conference also found that investing in public water systems has significant economic benefits, including job generation and increasing GDP.  

“Bottled water is becoming the poster child not only for conspicuous consumption, but for corporate greed,” said Syd Lea, a member of Corporate Accountability International since 2005. “Taking a shared resource, bottling it and slapping a price tag on it for more than the cost of oil…that’s get-rich-quick scheme our states shouldn’t be subsidizing.”

Vermonters are familiar with the controversy over bottling and have taken action to safeguard their water resources. Last year, the Vermont Legislature passed a groundwater protection law with support from citizens from across Vermont who believed that it’s imperative to protect Vermont’s water for Vermonters, for generations to come.

The Vermont Natural Resources Council, a statewide environmental advocacy organization, was instrumental in shepherding the bill into law.

 “The law designates Vermont’s groundwater as a public trust resource – a resource that is owned by all Vermonters,” said Jon Groveman, water program director for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. “The law prioritizes uses for water, putting water for public drinking water systems and water for agriculture above other uses, including water bottling.” Groveman continued: "The celebration of World Water Day underscores the critical importance of protecting our water resources."  

Besides affirming the public nature of the state's groundwater, the law also provides cities and towns regulatory tools to better protect this vital resource from over-exploitation.

VNRC believes that in these tight times all state expenses should be closely examined, and that the administration should always be looking for ways to reduce unnecessary expenses.

Since the Governor signed the bill into law, Stewart is optimistic about official action on bottled water.
 
For more information visit www.StopCorporateAbuse.org.

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