State House News Service BOSTON — The state’s tab for bottled water has his hit nearly $200,000 since July, and advocates are asking lawmakers to turn on the taps instead for savings.
"It makes no sense to purchase and throw away water bottles," Janet Rothrock told the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee.
A one-liter bottle costing $1.50 is 1,850 times as expensive as a liter of tap water.
This is a wasteful use of taxpayer money, and secondly it can be unhealthy.
Bottled water is tested only by the manufacturer, test results are not made public, and water sold within its state of origin is not required to be tested."
A member of the group Concord on Tap, she said the town’s culture has changed since that decision, with more water fountains installed and pitchers of water with paper cups a common sight at municipal meetings.
In 2014, the State Administration Committee killed that session’s version of the bill, filed by former Rep. Tom Sannicandro, by including it in an order for further study.
Richmond told lawmakers Wednesday the move makes sense because the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority provides "some of the best tap water in the country."
Bottled water spending and related equipment rental costs totaled $192,215 from the July 1 start of the fiscal year through Oct. 19, according to the state’s Open Checkbook database.
Only 23 of the 417 National Park Service sites had put the ban into place before it was rescinded.