Bottled or tap? Debate rages over what to serve at inauguration
WASHINGTON -- Bottled water or tap? Call it the capital’s latest political debate.
The head of the District of Columbia’s water agency is calling on planners of next year’s presidential inauguration to serve local tap water, saying it is a way to show support for the nation’s drinking water systems.
The effort comes after Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, selected home-state Saratoga Spring bottled water to be served, saying it would enable guests to “enjoy this special taste of New York.’’
But George S. Hawkins, general manager of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, said in a letter to Schumer on Thursday, “If you choose to provide costly, environmentally harmful bottled water, we encourage you to at least provide attendees with a choice and also offer local DC tap water.’’
Hawkins noted that hundreds of water samples are tested weekly in the district “to ensure we meet public health standards set by Congress.” He offered to make available reusable water bottles for the tap water.
“The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority is proud to provide retail water and wastewater service to more than 600,000 residents and 16.6 million annual visitors of the nation’s capital,” he said.
A Schumer spokesman said Saratoga Spring would be providing bottles of sparkling water and DC tap was already going to be available to anyone who prefers tap to sparkling.
Adam Madkour, chief executive of Saratoga Spring Water Co., said in an email to the Los Angeles Times: “We don’t appreciate the claim or the position the DC water officials are taking against bottled water…. Sen. Schumer chose to honor our historic company by having us present at an historic moment. For that we will continue to support anyone’s choice of quality American made products.”
He added the company is “mindful of the environment and have for years purchased wind power as an offset and implemented many steps to minimize our carbon footprint.”
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