For years, bottled water companies have spent millions to peddle the myth that bottled water is safer, cleaner, and better tasting than tap water. The result is record spending on bottled water by consumers and local governments at the expense of the environment. Recognizing this considerable drain on our natural resources, City Departments are now prohibited from purchasing bottled water at taxpayer expense.

Given the outstanding quality of water delivered by the SFPUC, it’s a wonder anyone would pay the inflated cost of bottled water. San Francisco’s tap water - pristine snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains - is already some of the purest, safest and best tasting water in the world. Water collected at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir exceeds all federal and state criteria for water quality and is tested nearly 90,000 times a year throughout the system to ensure its safety every day.

The environmental impact of bottled water is profound. Here are just some of the facts:

• For the price of one gallon of bottled water, San Franciscans can purchase 1000 gallons of tap water.
  
• Only 17% of water bottles actually get recycled and the process of recycling bottles is a drain on our energy resources.
  
• It takes an estimated 17 million barrels of oil to make the plastic water bottles Americans use each year.
  
• Distribution of bottled water by boat, truck and train involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels.

San Francisco is proud of its historic role as a leader in environmental protection. Drinking tap water at home is a simple and economical way to combat global climate change. Also, consider using a stainless steel water bottle for convenient access to water at work and on-the-go.

Thank you for your efforts to protect our natural resources and make San Francisco a healthier place to call home.