WASHINGTON - May 7 - “This week, New York Governor David A. Paterson signed an Executive Order to phase out the state’s purchase and use of bottled water in State agency facilities.  Food & Water Watch applauds Governor Paterson’s actions and his demonstrated commitment to protecting one of our most vital natural resources.

“In addition to being no purer than tap water and a waste of money, the production and distribution of bottled water causes a host of equity and environmental problems. These include taking water from communities that depend on it; polluting the environment during the production of plastic; contributing to global warming by transporting bottled water over great distances; and irresponsibly disposing of billions of empty bottles. Moreover, in our current economic climate, no state should be squandering municipal resources on bottled water.

“Food & Water Watch’s Take Back the Tap Campaign has been working with restaurants in New York to eliminate bottled water from their menus. We are thrilled that the State of New York is joining these establishments in highlighting the benefits of tap water over bottled water and supporting policies that promote clean, affordable water for all.

 “We encourage other states to follow New York’s lead in eliminating this unnecessary expense from their budgets; and we encourage Congress to help maintain the integrity of our drinking water by establishing a Clean Water Trust Fund to maintain and upgrade the infrastructure systems that deliver this essential resource to American families.”