Tax Proposed On Bottled Water To Pay For Water Infrastructure

The recent Boston water main brake has heightened the debate on how to fix America's aging water infrastructure.

Representative Earl Blumenauer from Oregon is trying to raise support for the The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act that, among other initiatives, taxes beverage bottlers, which would include water bottlers, who directly benefit from the county's clean water supplies.

The bill would aim to raise about $10 Billion a year to for water system repairs nationwide through a 4 cent per bottle tax.

Bottled water interests such as Nestle Waters North America  and the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) are taking issue with the bill and think the costs should not rest so heavily on their industry. IBWA spokesmen Tom Lauria said in a statement, "The Blumenauer bill is singling out one product unfairly and disproportionately, and it's not going to solve the problem."

Unfortunately, an estimated 40% of bottled water comes from municipal sources. So, many of the companies opposing a water infrastructure tax have a business model dependent on public water systems to make money. Should they be obligated to pay?

To find out more information on the bill click here. To tell congress you support new funding for water infrastructure, click here.

photo credit: dipfan on flickr creative commons