Arches and Canyonlands bottle ban sparks feud

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK — A war over disposable water bottles in the national parks has moved back to Utah where it first began four years ago.

Zion National Park eliminated sales of the ubiquitous disposable bottles in 2008. A similar ban more than a year ago at Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park was temporarily derailed by controversy involving the Coca-Cola company.

Now, a feud has erupted over a proposed ban in southeastern Utah's Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Only sales of water bottles would be banned, not possession.

"I've not heard anyone even discuss a possible ban on bringing them in from outside the park," said Paul Henderson, assistant superintendent of the two parks.

The new policy is intended to lessen the impact of park visitors on waste volume and landfill space. "Recycling, or changing our habits a little bit, goes a long way toward making us greener," Henderson said.

The proposal has run into flak from an unexpected direction. Park rangers and others say it could lead to safety issues because some visitors may not carry adequate water during hikes.

"When the landfill trumps visitor safety, we think the decision being made is not a good one," one source said after requesting anonymity.

As of March 1, it will no longer be possible to buy disposable water bottles at retail outlets within the boundaries of the two parks near Moab. The Canyonlands Natural History Association has agreed to voluntarily eliminate sales at three nonprofit stores the organization operates within the parks. Instead, visitors will be encouraged to buy refillable non-disposable containers.

According to Henderson, park managers hope to finalize a formal sales ban this spring, in accordance with guidance from National Park Service headquarters in Washington.

Many park visitors can't seem to get by without the familiar disposable bottles. 

"I don't have to buy something that I'm worried about losing," said Kathy Shaw of Austin, Texas. "And, I don't know, they're just convenient."

Shaw stopped at the Arches visitors center to refill her disposable bottle. "I've had this bottle for probably two years," she said. "I mean, it's the same bottle. I don't throw them away."