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SF Considering Mandatory Water Bottle Filling Stations In Renovated Buildings

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A new proposal by San Francisco Supervisor David Chiu would require that all new and renovated buildings are equipped with bottle filling stations.

Chiu said his legislation would allow people to refill their empty bottles rather than throwing them out.

"Every 27 hours, Americans use enough plastic water bottles to ring our entire globe," Chiu said. "Every year, Californians get rid of a billion water bottles in our landfills."

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

Chiu said that the Drink Tap stations are also critical because bottled water can contain harmful chemicals while the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir provides San Franciscans with pristine quality tap water.

Buildings covered under the measure would be required to provide both drinking fountains and water filling stations, making it easier for people to refill bottles with that tap water.

Chiu said it would also save consumers money as instead of having to constantly purchase water bottles, the tap water from Hetch Hetchy costs less than a penny a gallon.

If approved by the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Ed Lee, the mandate would go into effect at the beginning of next year.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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