Bottled Water? EPA Resuscitates the Water Fountain

Is it time to bring back the water fountain? Despite the cost and environmental impact of bottled water, plus health scares like the e.coli bottled water recall that happened earlier this year, Americans now drink 50 billion bottled waters each year, and eschew the tap–let alone the water fountain. This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency embarked on an ambitious campaign to invest in public water fountains and promote the benefits of drinking tap water. But can it work?

I think so. In California, awareness of the drought has shined a negative light on bottling companies like Pepsi–which famously predicted “when we are done, tap water will be relegated to showers and washing dishes,” according to Bottlemania: Big Business, Local Springs, and the Battle Over America’s Drinking Water.

In New York, where the municipal water apparently tastes so good it’s also bottled for export, the Department of Environmental Protection placed portable public water fountains in parks and high-profile events like Fashion Week and a Yankees game. There’s even an app that can help you find a water fountain!

What do you think? Do you drink from water fountains? Would you, if you could find one by using an app? Why or why not? Please tell me about it, in comments below. Thanks!