Last year, San Francisco strengthened its eco-conscious stance by passing an ordinance banning the sale of plastic water bottles on city-owned property. The measure, dovetailed with the city’s plastic bag ban, takes aim at single-use plastics in the city.
We’re actually not sure why anyone would opt out of using a reusable water bottle, as San Francisco has some of the best water in the world. It originates from pristine snowmelt in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. Unlike bottled water, the city’s tap water costs less than half a penny per gallon, is quality tested over 100,000 times a year, and goes straight to the tap!
It appears that city businesses are in agreement about the reusable water bottle thing.
Starting in 2010, San Francisco Water (part of the public utilities commission) has been installing outdoor water bottle fill stations (called tap stations) around the city to provide free access to high-quality drinking water to all. They even have a map to help you find one!
Sound cool? Totally! They’re also partnering with TapIt to create a community of local businesses that offers free tap water to anyone stopping by or wanting to refill their reusable water bottles while on the go.
Hilton San Francisco Union Square installed hydration stations in all of its towers and the health club. Each fill station has a counter that shows how many plastic bottles are eliminated from landfills. By the end of 2014, they were at 35,000! They also stopped stocking guest rooms with plastic water bottles, which further supports their commitment.
San Francisco International Airport has installed reusable water bottle fill stations in every terminal. They also have a handy-dandy map so you can find the one closest to you.
See what great things come from working together to promote healthy living and a greener environment? Remember, the next time your travels take you to (or through!) San Francisco, be sure you have your favorite reusable water bottle. There is no shortage of places you can fill it up!