So should we support bottled water or not?
Back in June, Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody asked us all to forget about bottled water and drink only tap water instead.
“This is an important conversation that all of us need to have in America today,” said Coody while standing on the steps of the City Administration Building this past summer.
Citing the financial and environmental costs associated with the bottled water industry, Mayor Coody made a pretty good case for his decision to no longer use public funds to purchase bottled water.
Just as we thought we knew exactly where our city’s leadership stands on this issue, however, we discovered a recent story that says Fayetteville is currently courting an Iceland-based bottled water company, Bruarfoss, who is considering moving into the city-owned, former Mexican Original plant on 15th Street.
Uh. Wait a second. Are we reading ourselves correctly here? Did we just write that our city is against bottled water but we’re for bottled water companies moving into town?
To be fair, according to NWAnews, Mayor Coody did say that Bruarfoss is looking for a “site that could serve as a centralized emergency depot from which the company could quickly respond to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, where the demand for water is significant.”
So here are our questions: If Bruarfoss comes to town, will they use the facility solely for emergency water? Or does that even matter? If we embrace a bottled water company for whatever reason, will we be labeled as hypocrites? What will Think Outside the Bottle say?
Or is economic development more important with a potential recession peeking its head around the corner?
Got any thoughts?
Discussion
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By Angel Lust on October 7th, 2008
unemployed people typically don’t vote for incumbents no matter how sustainable their community is.
Good water is defnitely a resource in NWA.
By George on October 7th, 2008
I vote NAY! Are we on the sustainability bus or under it? I understand that there must be a balance between economic development and environmental concerns. Sometimes you have to give up one for the other. Actually, one of the things I like most about Coody is that he understands this. But this kind of flies in the face of our efforts to re-define our community and economy. It would be a big **** stain in our shiny new green undies.
Plus, can we get some effing jobs in Fayetteville that don’t involve factory work or the food/drink service industry!!! Don’t get me wrong. I’ve done both…multiple times. But we need more jobs for college graduates, not just college students. I’m tired of driving to Rogers/Bentonville everyday and giving those yuppie ****s my tax revenues. Rogers/Bentonville springdales!
(yay. i actually made it through a post without saying “****”. i’m trying to get better before Double F starts enforcing the Patriot Act on us.)
By George on October 7th, 2008
I know TD. Just messin witchyas. I just like playing the “they’re all out to get me” victim (queue the tiny violins).
By Strokitecture on October 7th, 2008
I worked on some architectural feasibility studies for the Mexican Original Plant. The charge was to put a nonprofit art organization (NWA Community Creative Center) into part of that plant space. Coody supported the move but always with the caveat that some of the space had to remain usable in case of national emergencies, particularly on the south side of the building where the loading docks are located. So, i believe it to be genuine that they would be looking to use the space for emergency response, but i would bet there will be more going on there than just sitting and waiting for the next disaster.
yes, water bottles are bad. not sure how to make the judgment between progressive policies and providing jobs. thats a tough one…
By Sardon on October 8th, 2008
This glacier water isn’t a bunch of little plastic bottles is it? I heard it was five gallon reusable water cooler bottles, a whole different thang sustainabulitywise. Not as efficient as just using the pipes (tubes?) in place, but lots better than the water:plastic ratio in the handhelds.
By chris-os on October 8th, 2008
This company from sweden may be what you’re thinking of. Maybe not. http://nwaonline.com/articles/2008/10/08/business/100708fyvswdh2o.txt
By Total Bastard on October 8th, 2008
Coody is courting a bunch of Swedes. Its hard to keep up.
Hopefully they will bring their bikini team.
By JP on October 11th, 2008
I think the tap water is disgusting and we need locally produced gallon or larger sized bottles of distilled water, especially in a large reserve for natural disasters.