Take Back the Tap
"Taking back the tap" means reclaiming a more economical, ecological, equitable, and healthy way to drink water. Drinking bottled water is bad for your pocket book, bad for the planet, and sometimes bad for people too. Due to advocacy by the Sustainability Committee, student groups and others, Lane has "Taken Back the Tap" and stopped selling bottled water at the cafeteria, bookstore and in vending machines. To date, 276 Lane students and employees have signed the pledge to "Take Back the Tap" and not drink bottled water. Sign the pledge today!
Economy:
Bottled water costs more per gallon than gasoline. Bottled water costs as much as 10,000 times more than tap water.
Ecology:
Bottled water contributes to the estimated 3 million tons of plastic debris floating on the sea surface in the North Pacific. The production of bottled water releases over 2.5 million tons of global warming gas, carbon dioxide.
Equity:
Purchasing bottled water contributes to the production of greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and the depletion of the earth's oil reserves. Do you want to leave your grandchildren with a warmer, more polluted planet?
Health:
The Eugene Water & Electric Board's water quality is truly extraordinary. Due in part to it's pure source, the McKenzie River, nearly 200,000 EWEB water consumers are getting some of the cleanest, tastiest water on the planet. So good, in fact, that Organic Style magazine has named EWEB's water the best in the nation. Water coming out of Lane Community College's tap is healthy too. A 2011 study of tap water in all of our buildings found that all common tap water contaminants were either not detectable or below maximum contaminant levels.
Short Mountain Landfill in Goshen, Oregon
The bottom line - Take Back the Tap! Refuse to purchase bottled water!
Resources:
- The Story of Bottled Water. - This seven minute video succinctly summarizes the reasons to choose tap water over bottled water.
- Food and Water Watch Take Back the Tap Campaign
- Why it is Time to Take Back the Tap! Poster developed by Lane Honors students: Chris Morris, Alex Way, Chance Aumuller, and Lindy Comrada in 2012.
- Lane Community College Bottled Water Filling Stations Map. Map created by Lane Honors students: Chris Morris, Alex Way, Chance Aumuller, and Lindy Comrada in 2012. Updated on 1/2/14.