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Beutler orders city departments to switch to tap water

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BY KENDRA WALTKE / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, May 02, 2008 - 12:29:58 am CDT

Water coolers for city staff are on their way out.

What began as a green idea turned into a mayoral directive that’s just as much about taxpayer dollars and public perception as environmental friendliness.

The city could save several thousand  dollars, and the public won’t have to wonder why its taxes are being spent on filtered water for city employees — and if the city’s tap water is truly safe to drink.

Story Photo
Mayor Chris Beutler (LJS File)

Especially since the city wastewater department is among the biggest spenders on drinking water.

An executive order by Mayor Chris Beutler directed all city departments to stop buying water and switch to tap water for human consumption. Any exceptions must be approved by the mayor.

The directive cited the high quality of city water, which meets state and federal standards, and the importance of employees showing confidence in the municipal water supply.

“It’s just a strong desire by the mayor that the city needs to walk the talk,” said Gene Hanlon, the staff resource for the mayor’s environmental task force.

The change began in connection with Earth Day, as a plan to use less bottled water and reduce waste. But the talk soon led to water coolers used in some departments.

“It is inappropriate to use taxpayer dollars to buy water systems, especially when our water is as good as it is,” said mayoral aide Trish Owen.

The mayor wanted to target multi-gallon coolers used indoors, not single-serving bottles,  which tend to be used off-site  and only when needed, she said.

A cursory check found the city spends nearly $9,000 per year on water, according to city purchasing agent Vince Mejer.

He said the wastewater and health departments are among the biggest buyers, spending about $4,400 on five Culligan water coolers at wastewater/solid waste sites.

Utilities Coordinator Gary Brandt said the practice began years ago when staff complained about the taste and smell of tap water at the Northeast treatment plant, which, back then, was at the end of a little-used water line.

“They showed us brown ice cubes,” Brandt said. “It was a trade-off between constantly flushing the line or getting a smaller water cooler.”

Now, more water use in the area has solved that problem.

People also turned up their noses at the in-town Teresa Street facility, where long underground water lines also can leave an odor.

Members of the public at the plant for meetings or tours can be skeptical about drinking water from the pipes at a waste facility, he said, and bringing in water is the sole choice at a sludge treatment site that lacks city water service.

Still, Brandt said, losing the coolers shouldn’t be a problem.

“We can operate without that.”

Health Department Director Bruce Dart said his department buys bottled water to drink on-site at hazardous waste collections or during hazardous materials calls.

No water coolers or water bottles are provided for employees in the office, he said.

“Lincoln water is extremely safe,” Dart added. “It’s also fluoridated, which bottled water is not.”

Mayoral aide Rick Hoppe said the mayor will make exceptions for some uses.

“We’re not going to save every penny of that $9,000, but we will sure save a big hunk of it,” he said.

Hanlon said the change was about saving resources in general.

“It’s my understanding that not that many city offices are doing it.”

Reach Kendra Waltke at 473-7303 or kwaltke@journalstar.com.


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CL wrote on May 2, 2008 1:20 am:
" Every little thing counts, right? Sometimes the little things really add up. However, I was disappointed to hear that the city's response to bad drinking water was to make sure employees had safe water by bringing in purchased water, and did not do anything for the residents and let it clear up on its own. That's rather unfortunate. "

 Great Move wrote on May 2, 2008 2:15 am:
" I hate to agree with this bad mayor on anything, but like a broken clock, he's right every so often. Great move, I'm tired of the "bottled water sissies" out there. Find another $9,000, then do it a few more times, and that'll fund another police officer. "

 question wrote on May 2, 2008 5:25 am:
" Why does the City have to pay for water for employees to drink, why cann't they buy their own?
I can understand road crews needing water to help beat the heat but people from offices or recreation activities they can buy their own, I have to buy my own "

 DOC wrote on May 2, 2008 6:35 am:
" Okay Class. Wow, we're going to save $9,000 on water out of a several million dollar budget. We're going to let the employees drink tap water. Fluoridated tap water? That same stuff that is warned about on the toothpaste tube. That's the one, where they tell you to call poison control if you swallow it. Now the employees get to bring their own water if they want it without the "stuff". I can guarantee that they'll waste more than $9,000 doing their own water thing than what the city was spending. "

 Mike in DC wrote on May 2, 2008 7:02 am:
" $9,000 per year? You realize that one lawsuit for disease caused by something in the water that isn't removed by fluorination, ozonation, chlorination, but IS removed by revese-osmosis--and there's ALWAYS something we don't know about yet--will each up a decade's worth of savings? Maybe that's "Devil's Advocate" but my point is just because something meets current standards doesn't mean it's safe, and meeting standards does not stop the possibility of legal liability. "

 about time wrote on May 2, 2008 7:41 am:
" This is hysterical! I have thought for YEARS that bottled water was such a waste. All those goody two shoe people too good for regular city water, spending all that money for water! Thanks Mayor! For finally doing this! In your face yuppies! LMAO "

 Good for goose good for gandor wrote on May 2, 2008 7:44 am:
" I buy my own water bottle why cann't City Employees? "

 I dont work for the City or County.. wrote on May 2, 2008 8:05 am:
" but I don't think having water coolers or filters on taps is a big deal if it improves their workplace environment. Individual bottles of water, yeah that's a waste (except as Dart says on haz waste sites). Lincoln have high quality of water, yes it does. But whats the big deal about having a water cooler if thats what they want? "

 AD - Regulate AC heat wrote on May 2, 2008 8:22 am:
" Go one step further and regulate the thermostats in city buildings/offices. Dress for the weather and you can be comfortable in the summer @ 75* or the winter @ 65*. Check out some city offices and in the summer some staff are wearing sweaters because it is so cold. Hey, did you know that StarTran mechanics garage is actually AIR CONDITIONED - yeah this huge garage is air conditioned - I'm sure this cost more that $9000. "

 For Heavens Sake wrote on May 2, 2008 8:33 am:
" Just drink the tap water. I live in Waverly but work in Lincoln and I certainly don't cart bottled water to work with me. I and my other co-workers all drink the tap water here in Lincoln. What the heck is wrong with people that they think that they have to buy bottled water. Plus after reading an article about bottled water I wouldn't want to drink that either!!! I was amazed that the city even was buying water for employees. What a waste of money!! "

 Dee wrote on May 2, 2008 8:46 am:
" Have you read your paper that comes from the city that informs you what is exactly and how much is in the water...look at it, they allow ARSENIC in your water supply but the government allows a certain amount saying it is safe, while they slowly poison you,the drug companys are going getting large eyes knowing thats how many people they will be making money off in the future..
As far as bottled water, its a waste, its actually tap water anyways,..
If your going to be upset about the water, buy a water distiller, that is the safest water you can drink! "

 Snowed wrote on May 2, 2008 8:46 am:
" Haven't y'all heard the studies that bottled water is no better or safer than tap water and in some cases it is worse? Search the net. You'll find it. I've heard for 20 years that Evian is naive spelled backwards. Btw, I dig our mayor. "

 Thirsty wrote on May 2, 2008 8:57 am:
" I work for UNL and our department brings bottled water in for the water cooler. HOWEVER, the employees in our department pay for the water. It comes out to be $2-3 a month per employee. I never thought of it being that big of deal coming out of my pocket instead of the taxpayers/students. "

 alternative wrote on May 2, 2008 9:07 am:
" If people just HAVE to have filtered water, all they need to do is chip in a little money each and buy a Brita filter to keep around. We have a big one that you can get both cold and hot water out of. You put tap water in, and get filtered out, and it's really quite inexpensive. Our office of about 20 people seems to go through almost 6 gallons a day. "

 NOT IMPRESSED wrote on May 2, 2008 9:48 am:
" Out of the millions being spent on things, and questionable things, we find a 9 thousand dollar gap. Well, what about the million here and million there for a study. We don't seem to get it. Its like saying pennies to waste dollars. I just don't get it. "

 tim wrote on May 2, 2008 10:09 am:
" way to go mayor. he's paying attention to the little things. every penny saved is one less tax coin "

 Tracy wrote on May 2, 2008 10:42 am:
" Good move by Beutler. If you are going to walk the walk, you have to talk the talk....and this step is evident of that. "

 JJ wrote on May 2, 2008 10:55 am:
" Hey DOC, did you know that our flouridated water is recommended by doctors? It is especially important for our little ones to be drinking it because it's good for their teeth. This is why they sell nursery water for bottle fed babies, it has flouride in the water!! The city employees need to buy their own water. What a waste of money, even if it is only $9000 a year. I wonder who approved that in the first place. "

 water man wrote on May 2, 2008 11:08 am:
" shhhh, take the 5 gal continer, fill it with tap water, and then place it back onto the cooler, no one would ever know, hell thats what I have done, and you know what you have clean, cold H2O and no one knows the difference. "

 JT wrote on May 2, 2008 12:40 pm:
" Great job city. I love to hear the cutting of stupid spending on something like bottled water. Keep up the good work. "

 Barbara wrote on May 2, 2008 1:10 pm:
" I can verify I've been drinking Lincoln water for some 4 decades and I have not grown any extra limbs or gotten any form of tap water related cancers. About the time flouride was legislated into our drinking water, I never had to have another tooth filled due to cavity or decay. "

 so wrote on May 2, 2008 1:36 pm:
" Does this include all bottled water? "

 M wrote on May 2, 2008 2:18 pm:
" First, $9,000 may not seem like much with the full budget, but a little here and a little there will add up. How about using more e-mails and electronic files rather than so much paper and ink? You can also cut down on staples, tape, etc. I used to work in an office (not in Nebraska) where nearly everything was electronic. Not only was our supply spending really low, it was the most effecient office I have ever worked in.

Second, for those concerned about all the "toxins" in the water, the mayor is not forcing anyone to drink tap water, he is just not willing to pay for the bottle water anymore. If you feel that the tap water is unsafe, then fine, go buy yourself some bottled water. There is no need for the taxpayers to pay extra for something that comes right out of the tap.

These are tough times people! Most of us can't spend those extra tax checks for what the Gov. wants us to. We need to all tighten the belts in every aspect of our lives. Work included. "

 Nina wrote on May 2, 2008 2:47 pm:
" Reasonable! And if they don't like it, they can still bring their own in a thermos. "

 ol Farmer wrote on May 2, 2008 3:13 pm:
" Water man's solution was tried when a group of around 300 Nebr high school musicians and sponsors toured internationally, and safety of water sources was unknown in some places. Contracts at each lodging facility stated that bottled water would be provided at every meal. The 'bottled' water all had the seals broken 'for our guests convenience.' They put up a fuss about it, but finally provided the bottled water. I think that attempt was called theft by deception. "

 amy wrote on May 2, 2008 4:18 pm:
" The person who marketed the first bottled water was smart, the person that made us think brand mattered was a genious "

 Waterman wrote on May 2, 2008 7:22 pm:
" Tap water is not near as clean as bottled water. In most cases your cities municipal water supply can only clean your water good enough to remove large impurities. However bottled water passes threw many different stages such as an ro , ozonator , so on and so forth removing particulates all the way up to .5 micron in size . Im sure they'll buy something else with the money anyway "

 Newsflash wrote on May 2, 2008 7:59 pm:
" Most bottled water is actually tap water, i.e. the products from PepsiCo. "

 LES Employee wrote on May 2, 2008 8:14 pm:
" We don't have bottled water... I was shocked to hear the City was purchasing water for employees. What a waste of resources. "

 Huh wrote on May 3, 2008 4:05 pm:
" The city didn't drink their own tap water, but expected the citizens to drink it. Why didn't they, what's wrong with it? They allowed elderly and children to drink it in their homes without warning, but wouldn't drink it themselves. Somethings fishy. "

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