The U.S Conference of Mayors Mayors Water Council Municipal Waste Management Association Resolution # 90 The Importance of Municipal Water New York City May 1, 2008

2007 Resolution # 90 Importance of Municipal Water Reasons Cities are responsible for providing safe and affordable water and sewer Local government spends $82 billion per year for water and sewer US consumers spend $11 billion/yr for bottled water At least 25% of bottled water is from municipal tap sources Bottled water costs 1,000 to 10,000 times more than municipal tap water Transport of bottled water incurs emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants Production of plastic bottles in the US requires utilization of 1.5 million barrels of oil per year Enough energy to: provide electricity for 250,000 households fuel 100,000 cars per year Plastic water bottles are one of the fastest growing components of the municipal waste stream

2007 Resolution # 90 Importance of Municipal Water Resolve USCM ENCOURAGED to compile information on: The Importance of Municipal Water The Impact of Bottled Water on Municipal Waste

A Price Comparison Between Municipal Tap Water and Commercial Bottled Water City, State Average Residential Tap Water Rate ($ Per 1000 gallons) Average Residential Tap Water Rate ($ Per Ounce) Grocery Purchase of Single-Serve Bottled Water ($ Per Ounce) How Many Times More Does Bottled Water Cost Than Tap Water? Fayetteville, AR , Phoenix, AZ , Los Angeles, CA , San Diego, CA , San Francisco, CA , San Jose, CA , Philadelphia, PA , San Antonio, TX , Chicago, IL , Urbana, IL , Detroit, MI , Minneapolis, MN , Albuquerque, NM , New York City, NY , Cuyahoga Falls, OH , Dallas, TX , Houston, TX , Seattle, WA ,677.42

WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE Water Infrastructure Investment is Critical ► Local/National Economy ►Public Health Public Safety Environmental Quality Sustainable Communities

Mayors Water Council Public Health Social Rate of Return from Investment in Filtration/Chlorination 1900 – 1940 infectious disease know as the “Urban Penalty” 40% reduction in mortality rate 1% reduction per year life expectancy at birth rose from 47 to 63 Cutler and Miller, Harvard Study

Mayors Water Council IN 1900 waterborne infectious disease accounted for about 25% of all infectious disease deaths IN 1940 ¾ decline in infant mortality ⅔ decline in child mortality

Mayors Water Council Causal Factors Nutrition Hygiene- public education (hand & food washing) Large scale public health innovations – clean water technologies filtration/chlorination Not mutually exclusive

Mayors Water Council Water systems are expensive, but their public health benefits appear to be substantially greater Conservative assumptions: Rate of return to clean water technologies is about 23 to 1 Range for major urban centers $7 to $40 for every $1 invested

Mayors Water Council Conservative assumptions: Cost per person-year saved is about $500 in 2003 dollars Includes: avoided health care costs increased life span Increased productivity