Think Green Live Clean

In the small tourist town of Bundanoon, Australia, residents
unanimously voted to halt sales of bottled water. In doing so they
have set an international precedent. The actions of the Bundanoon
community have stimulated a heated debate about the the environmental
damage and ethical concerns that revolve around the bottled water
industry. There has been a push on both a local and national level in
the U.S. to reduce consumption of bottled water in light of apparent
energy consumption and waste that results from the manufacturing and
transportation needs of the bottled water industry. Now, the actions a
a small, quaint town southwest of Sydney are bolstering the efforts
made elsewhere.

The debate over bottled water extends beyond the myriad of
environmental issues connected to the production and consumption of
this product. A social issue arises over ownership of particular water
sources and the waning trust in municipal water due to the propaganda
and false advertising of bottled water corporations. The actions taken
in Bundanoon were initiated by a dozen activists such as Huw Kingston,
owner of Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe and founder of the “Bundy on Tap”
campaign. Initially, Kingston and others were concerned about the
announcement made by a bottling company that claimed rights of
extraction from a local freshwater aquifer in order to collect and
transport bottled water to Sydney. Residents then became more aware
about the environmental and health problems connected to the issue.
Out of the 356 residents of the town, only one individual voted
against the ban.

The bottled water industry rakes in about $60 billion a year
worldwide. Environmentalists and government leaders have investigated
and begun to impose regulations on the industry after finding little
difference in safety and quality between tap water and bottled water
sources. While the ban is voluntary in Bundanoon, with many local
restaurants and shops refusing to sell bottled water, the state
government in New South Wales has announced that it would stop buying
bottled water on a federal level, and it is urging other states to
follow its lead. It is clear that even the accomplishments of a few
can potentially inspire global support and action.

to learn more please visit the NY TIMES

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/world/asia/16iht-water.html?_r=1