Groups Criticize State's Bottled Water Spending

Environmental groups are criticizing the state government for spending taxpayer dollars on bottled water.

A report from Corporate Accountability International says the state spent half a million dollars on bottled water in 2009. Both for economic and environmental reasons, the group’s campaign director, Kristin Urquiza, says the state needs to promote the usage of tap water over bottled water.

“The fact is that bottled water is actually less regulated than tap water,” Urquiza said, “and nearly half of all bottled water comes from public water systems.”

Bay State residents drink over 300 million gallons of bottled water each year, the report says.

“Really what that means is if all of the half-liter water bottles consumed each year were laid end-to-end, that would circle the entire globe more than 11-and-a-half times,” Urquiza said.

The group also says recent boil water orders are evidence that the state should be investing in tap water systems.