Coca-Cola and American Beverage Association Attempt to Block Mayors Action in Support of Municipal Water

Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association attempted to block a resolution highlighting the importance of municipal water and calling for a study on the impact of bottled water on city waste.

Resolution 90 at the 75th U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Los Angeles was introduced by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Salt Lake City Mayor Ross "Rocky" Anderson, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.  The resolution called for recognizing the importance of municipal water and commissioned a study to examine the impact bottled water was having on city waste. 

Mayors from across the country rejected the efforts by the world's largest beverage company and their trade association to stop the resolution.  Coincidentally the lead image on the American Beverage Association's web site is of a young girl drinking from a one liter bottle of water.

There is growing concern about the impacts of bottled water on our environment and people's confidence in our public water systems. Corporate Accountability International is working with mayors as part of its Think Outside the Bottle campaign to challenge the impacts of bottled water and to raise awareness about the importance of strong public water systems.

The action at the U.S. Conference of Mayors follows Friday's announcement by Mayor Newsom that San Francisco would phase out the purchase of bottled water.  Similar action occurred last week when the Ann Arbor (MI) City Council announced that they would no longer have bottled water available at city sponsored events.

As we reported in May restaurants are also joining in, serving municipal tap water in lieu of bottled water.

"Momentum is building in support of our public water systems," said Gigi Kellett with Corporate Accountability International. "We congratulate all of these mayors -- and the U.S. Conference of Mayors -- on their leadership in passing a resolution that places the political will of mayors behind full support of municipal water. It is a critical step toward keeping our public water supply strong.  Our mayors are standing up for the environment and standing behind public water systems."