Bottled Water Restrictions at City Hall Saving Money
Executive order restricting purchase of bottled water
for city buildings & events effective this year

SEATTLE - Bottled water purchases have dropped significantly during the first five months of 2009 as city officials implement Mayor Greg Nickels' executive order restricting the purchase of bottled water for city buildings and events. Nickels signed the order in March 2008 and it went into effect in January 2009. As of mid-May 2009, Seattle had spent $9,000 on bottled water, a significant drop from 2007, when it spent roughly $67,000, and 2008, when the city spent about $56,000.

City departments have tested water systems and installed permanent plumbing improvements to comply with the order. Each department accounts for such fixes differently, but, conservatively, these capital equipment investments will have a 10-year useful life and account for significant savings. In fact, over ten years, the city's return on investment is more than 300 percent.

The executive order restricts the purchase of bottled water - it is not a ban on bottled water purchases - and Seattle officials expect a continued decrease in spending as the restrictions are implemented. Implementation has included negotiations with unions, an inventory of drinking water options at each city facility and, when necessary, water quality tests (such as at older facilities).

Exceptions to the purchase restrictions may be allowed:

• when there are no reasonable alternatives to access safe drinking water;
• when there are hydration requirements for employees working outside of city facilities;
• for legal or other contractual reasons; and
• for emergency supplies or in the event of emergencies that affect access to potable water.

In addition, the executive order does not restrict employees from privately purchasing bottled water for individual personal use and does not require departments to remove bottled water from vending machines contracted by departments.

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Office of the Mayor