Council leads by example with reusable water bottles

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Monday, May 12, 2008

After defending its use, the Denver City Council has decided to swallow the old logic and give bottled water the boot.

"I just purchased two reusable water bottles for everybody in the effort to get rid of the plastic throwaway bottles," council Staff Director Lauri Dannemiller said. "We're really trying to reduce the amount of those plastic bottles that go in the landfill."

The environment wasn't such a concern in November 2006 when the Rocky Mountain News reported that the city spent at least $117,000 over a three-year period on bottled water, when, in many cases, tap water or a drinking fountain were just a few feet away.

At the time, council President Michael Hancock defended the council's use of bottled water while conducting city business, saying it boiled down to a "sanitary issue" to have staffers handling pitchers of drinking water.

But on Friday, Hancock said the idea of reusable water bottles quenched his concerns.

"We kept working and working and finally Lauri and I came up with this plan that would keep things sanitary," he said. "One, it's my bottle. Two, I can keep it clean by taking it to the dishwasher. And three, the water . . . is coming out of a secure filter."

Also, it's "time for City Council to walk its talk," Hancock said, referring to the city's efforts to be more environmentally conscious.

"I'm all on board, and it is sanitary, so there we are," he said.

Councilman Charlie Brown said he isn't there yet, however. He said there are health concerns with reusable water bottles, too.

"Where is my good old Stetson, so I can put water in my Stetson?" he said, laughing.

Experiments on rats have linked behavioral and brain changes and cancer risks to the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, which is used in various products, including reusable water bottles.

Dannemiller said she is looking into whether the water bottles that council members are now carrying contain BPA.

Dannemiller said council members will still have the option to drink bottled water and that it will be available for guests.

But, she said, "my goal is to totally eliminate the purchase of the plastic water bottles."

Michele Weingarden, director of Greenprint Denver, the city's environmental initiative, applauded the council's decision.

"It's an opportunity for City Council to lead by example," she said. "Their meetings are broadcast every week, so no more will people see (throwaway) bottles of water in front of them, and that's a strong message to the community from an environmental standpoint."

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

• May 12, 2008

  12:56 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  happymike44 writes:

  Also think about the savings from not buying bottled water.

• May 12, 2008

  6:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  stevea writes:

  "And three, the water . . . is coming out of a secure filter." What's a secure filter? Are there armed guards protecting the City Council's water? Maybe all citizens should have the right to water from "Secure Filters".

  "I just purchased two reusable water bottles for everybody in the effort to get rid of the plastic throwaway bottles," Maybe two bottles for everybody isn't quite enough.

  Also, imagine how much money these geniuses can blow replacing the bottles they just bought, which may be politically incorrect. What fun!

  Also, "...council members will still have the option to drink bottled water".

  We trust these guys with millions of dollars. Yikes!

• May 12, 2008

  8:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  vudumom writes:

  What will happen is we will have a 9News expose and hidden camera investigation with the city still purchasing bottled water . They will be filling their reuseable ones with bottled water paid for with tax payers dollars behind closed doors, so they can look "green" , pun intended.

• May 12, 2008

  8:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Fireball writes:

  So, what do these people know that we don't know? I am on Denver Water and drink it every day because these folk say it is some of the best water in the nation. What are they not telling me? And what the hell is a "secure filter" anyway? What a bunch of crap and waste of taxpayer money.

• May 12, 2008

  9:28 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  prk166 writes:

  Thanks for mentioning BPA. I thought it was a bunch of crap... but it would explain a lot of the decisions the city council makes.

• May 12, 2008

  9:48 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Gene writes:

  The city council must have run out of property to downzone.

• May 13, 2008

  12:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:

  Collectivism in full splendor.

  Do they really need policy for water?

  I have an idea. No funding for water or containers other than the water in the pipes. If somebody wants to bring in their own water, water bottle or bottled water so be it.

  This is ridiculous. Are there not some potholes that need filled?

  Oh the privileged class called bureaucrats. When will we learn?