Deseret News | Rocky slowing flow of bottled water

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Rocky slowing flow of bottled water

Chris | 12:54 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Below is an excerpt from Deseret news a few weeks ago. This shows the Health effects that would be felt if we did away with bottled water.

The bottled water industry has recently come under attack by critics who say they are concerned about the quantity of water bottles going to our landfills and the energy used transporting them to market.
But those who propose bans on bottled water don't acknowledge that bottled water represents less than 1 percent of the municipal solid waste that ends up in landfills. Bottled water is only one beverage among hundreds that come in plastic containers.
Nor do the critics acknowledge that bottled water is a healthful choice.
The percentage of children who are overweight or obese in the United States is up 370 percent in the last generation. The average person in the United States gets 458 calories per day from beverages. That's an increase of 225 calories per day in the last 10 years, adding a whopping 82,000 calories per year to our diets.
Drinking more water, whether bottled or tap, represents a significant opportunity to reduce the problems of obesity and diabetes.

Chris | 12:58 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

I wrote the comments above, and the reason I did is because I work at a hospital. I can tell you that from a medical stand point, this would be a very bad idea. A large majority of patients that are admitted to the hospital have a medical condition that was related to poor nutrition. Listed in the comment above, I have an excerpt from a deseret news article from a few weeks ago. It has statistical research that backs up my claim. After reading through the research, we have to ask ourselves one question. Are we willing to hamper healthcare and life? It's a ploy for campaigning folks, nothing more. Don't follow that kind of advice, it will hurt us more than help (trust me).

VGB | 5:06 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

I never thought much about using bottled water before Ragin' Rocky began his campaign, but now I'm going to start using it. I think that anything that Rocky opposes must be a good thing. I'm going to buy a case of it this morning. Thanks Rocky!

Comments continue below

ED | 6:09 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Actually it is a non-issue. A bigger health issue is the cleanliness of the food, the food handlers, and the temperature the food is cooked to. The issue of the plastic bottles being dumped is barely on the radar screen compared to all the other plastic we throw away. Unless you are drinking water out of a ditch or a stream that is polluted with unhealthy bacteria while you are eating lunch, you will be okay.

FRK | 7:03 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Those of us with a memory will remember that it was attacks on tap water (attacks from the left side of the political spectrum) that spawned the growth in the bottled water industry. Now the same group of "smarter than you" folks is telling us to go back to tap water. Us poor dumb ordinary folks just can't make sense of all this.

JTM | 7:24 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

People wonder why Rocky and others focus on bottled water more than other bottled drinks. I think its because Coke and Pepsi don't flow easily out of your tap like bottled water does. And yes folks, it is tap water, not spring water. So we are wasting bottles to drink something that one could just as easily poor from a tap and put in a container.

mamapapaluv | 7:33 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Rocky Anderson is all wet on this issue. I love bottled water and I do recycle my empties. Get a life, Anderson. Has anyone tasted Salt Lake County tap water lately? It tastes like the Great Salt Lake smells. Pooie.

alp | 7:53 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

No, it's a ploy to help the environment and limit unnecessary waste. It's just as easy to fill a glass from the tap as it is to grab a bottle of water. It's similar to the elimination of plastic shopping bags in many environmentally-friendly grocery stores. People who are trying to live healthy by drinking water will drink it regardless of the packaging. But especially at restaurants, is a bottle really necessary when you pour it in a glass anyways? I'm so glad to see a Utahn who is doing something good for the environment.

Mahershalalhashbaz | 8:06 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Funny Rocky opposes plastic bottles but strongly supports glass bottles. They should just start drinking vodka all the time instead, then they will start seeing things the way Rocky sees them. What a bufoon.

RAF | 9:26 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Apparently being an idiot himself, Rocky may believe residents are also idiots and won't notice his hypocrisy.

He says it's absurd to not use tap water. What's absurd is HIM. Why can't his foot get STUCK in his mouth permanently?

He will be first in line to ask the city council for a water rate increase if enough tap water isnt sold by the city.

He runs around claiming he wants businesses to stay alive, yet lambasts them for selling products which may only generate pocket change, but helps them stay in business.

He is one of those who will jump on residents for not conserving "tap water" (claiming it is our life blood) during the summer, and again ask for a rate increase to discourage high consumption.

Once again, he proves to be a GIGANTIC embarrassment to this city. Thank goodness our soon-to-be EX-Mayor will soon be consigned to the dust bin of city history except when he's the butt of some joke.

If he's that concerned about the environment and everyone's health, let him go in his own back yard, bend over and munch on the grass for every meal. Leave the rest of us ALONE.

Joe | 9:30 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

I find it interesting that Rocky will attack water due to waste but promote alcohol in Salt Lake City. The environmental costs to produce beer, wine etc. involve energy use(pollution), reallocation of fruits and grains that could be used elsewhere, and solid waste (aluminum, glass, plastics, cork). This on top of the social costs such as crimes that are often made worse due to "Adult Beverages" such date rape and domestic violence and the direct effect of drunk driving. Finally Rocky is worried about the perception of visitors who find it difficulty to buy alcohol, what will their perception of Salt Lake city when they find out that there are restrictions on bottled water.

Rocky's position simply does not make sense when there are larger more pressing issues to attend to and whether your water is bottled or comes from a tap seems to be the least or our worries. If you want to save the environment, resources and lives, pick on a different type of beverage. No one that I know of has ever been involved in a traffic accident due to driving under the influence of water.

Al | 9:57 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

I have a hard time comprehending a movement like Rocky's that bans bottled water and doesn't speak out against all of the other beverages whose empty containers also contribute to the waste factor. I was glad when bottle water came along, not because I didn't like tap water, but because it gave me an alternative to soda fiz. I mainly use bottled water in places where public water isn't available; the car, the mountains, worksites, etc. I can throw a few bottles of water in my vehicle and have clean water anytime I want it. If I carry tap water with me, I have to freshen it every few days or it becomes stale. This attention getting campaign of Rocky's seem rather hypocritical, like many of his other campaigns.

JDW | 10:08 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

I would love to drink the tap water, just take out the medication (Fluoride) that I don't need or want.

Anonymous | 10:24 a.m. Oct. 13, 2007

And this has to do with the running of SLC how?

BH | 12:12 p.m. Oct. 13, 2007

If Rocky really cares about the environment, there are so many better ways to reduce waste in the landfill than bottled water. The ratio of soda bottles to bottled water containers must be at least 100 to 1.

Sorry, but I just do not believe that Rocky's intent on this issue at least, is sincere. If he is, he's off his rocker. Again.

Phloo | 9:29 p.m. Oct. 13, 2007

This is a serious issue. Put your hatred of Rocky aside and open your eyes. We pay a lot of money to have great tap water - something most other countries don't have. Take a look at the Knock Out Bottled Water Web site. This is not some lefty conspiracy. Buy a reusable bottle and fill it with refrigerated tap water. It tastes better than most tap water and is less expensive to both you and the environment.

Glad I live elsewhere | 10:21 p.m. Oct. 13, 2007

Sure glad I DON'T live in Salt Lake. Rocky does some nutty and embarrassing things. Look at the tantrum he had over the block between Temple Square and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The City came out pretty good on that deal. And I agree, what does bottled or tap water have to do with running the city government? I hope the next mayor will be "normal" and more responsible.

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Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Alec Daghlian pours water for Christine and Nate Ralston at Cedars of Lebanon on Friday. The restaurant has joined the local "Knock Out Bottled Water" campaign.